Shared image device synchronization or designation

ABSTRACT

In certain aspects, designating an attribute of at least one shared image at least partially with a designating shared image device that can be utilized to capture an image with at least one capturing shared image device. In other aspects, synchronizing a capturing shared image device to a sharing session in a manner that at least partially allows conveying between the capturing shared image device with at least another shared image device at least some shared images captured during the sharing session.

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/153,868, entitled SHARED IMAGE DEVICESYNCHRONIZATION OR DESIGNATION, naming Edward K. Y. Jung, Royce A.Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, John D. Rinaldo, Jr. asinventors, filed Jun. 14, 2005, which is currently co-pending, or is anapplication of which a currently co-pending application is entitled tothe benefit of the filing date.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to, claims the earliest availableeffective filing date(s) from (e.g., claims earliest available prioritydates for other than provisional patent applications; claims benefitsunder 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patent applications), andincorporates by reference in its entirety all subject matter of thefollowing listed application(s) (the “Related Applications”) to theextent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith; the presentapplication also claims the earliest available effective filing date(s)from, and also incorporates by reference in its entirety all subjectmatter of any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc.applications of the Related Application(s) to the extent such subjectmatter is not inconsistent herewith. The United States Patent Office(USPTO) has published a notice to the effect that the USPTO's computerprograms require that patent applicants reference both a serial numberand indicate whether an application is a continuation or continuation inpart. (see CITATION). The present applicant entity has provided below aspecific reference to the application(s) from which priority is beingclaimed as recited by statute. Applicant entity understands that thestatute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does notrequire either a serial number or any characterization such as“continuation” or “continuation-in-part.” Notwithstanding the foregoing,applicant entity understands that the USPTO's computer programs havecertain data entry requirements, and hence applicant entity isdesignating the present application as a continuation in part of itsparent applications, but expressly points out that such designations arenot to be construed in any way as any type of commentary and/oradmission as to whether or not the present application contains any newmatter in addition to the matter of its parent application(s).

1. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,644, entitled SHARED IMAGEDEVICES, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; MarkA. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 31 Jan. 2005.

2. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,629, entitled VIEWFINDER FORSHARED IMAGE DEVICE, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien; RobertW. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 1Feb. 2005.

3. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/064,787, entitled STORAGE ASPECTSFOR IMAGING DEVICE, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien; Robert W.Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 23Feb. 2005.

4. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/069,909, entitled SHARINGINCLUDING PERIPHERAL SHARED IMAGE DEVICES, naming Edward K. Y. Jung;Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo,Jr. as inventors, filed 28 Feb. 2005.

5. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/089,530, entitled PERIPHERALSHARED IMAGE DEVICE SHARING, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien;Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors,filed 23 Mar. 2005.

6. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/095,768, entitled IMAGETRANSFORMATION ESTIMATOR OF AN IMAGING DEVICE, naming Edward K. Y. Jung;Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo,Jr. as inventors, filed 30 Mar. 2005.

7. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/115,078, entitled PROXIMITY OFSHARED IMAGE DEVICES, naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien; RobertW. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 26Apr. 2005.

8. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/122,274, entitled REGIONALPROXIMITY FOR SHARED IMAGE DEVICE(S) naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A.Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. asinventors, filed 4 May 2005.

9. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/129,045, entitled SHARED IMAGEDEVICE RESOLUTION TRANSFORMATION naming Edward K. Y. Jung; Royce A.Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D. Rinaldo, Jr. asinventors, filed 13 May 2005.

10. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/143,970, entitled ESTIMATINGSHARED IMAGE DEVICE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES OR RESOURCES naming EdwardK. Y. Jung; Royce A. Levien; Robert W. Lord; Mark A. Malamud and John D.Rinaldo, Jr. as inventors, filed 2 Jun. 2005.

Certain aspects of the present application relate, in general, tosharing mechanisms that allow sharing of images between multipledevices.

In certain aspects, a method includes, but is not limited to,designating at least partially at a designating shared image device anattribute; and using the attribute by an at least one capturing sharedimage device for capturing at least one shared image. In addition to theforegoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings,and text forming a part of the present application.

In one aspect, a method includes, but is not limited to, synchronizing acapturing shared image device to a sharing session in a manner that atleast partially allows conveying between the capturing shared imagedevice with at least another shared image device at least some sharedimages captured during the sharing session, wherein the synchronizingthe capturing shared image device can allow the capturing shared imagedevice to obtain at least some images captured by the at least anothershared image device even at times of the sharing session when thecapturing shared image device is not participating in the sharingsession. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects aredescribed in the claims, drawings, and text, and form a part of thepresent application.

In one aspect, a process includes, but is not limited to, at leastpartially designating an attribute at a shared image device that caneffect capturing during a sharing session at a capturing shared imagedevice, wherein the capturing at the capturing shared image device atleast partially satisfies the attribute. In addition to the foregoing,other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text, and forma part of the present application.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a capturingshared image device operable to receive an attribute information of atleast one shared image from a remote shared image device. The capturingshared image device can be operable to capture the at least one sharedimage at least partially in response to the capturing shared imagedevice receiving the attribute information. In addition to theforegoing, other apparatus aspects are described in the claims,drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.

In one aspect, a sharing mechanism includes, but is not limited to adesignating shared image device operable to at least partially forward adesignation of an attribute information that can be received by acapturing shared image device to capture one or more images, wherein thecapturing the one or more images at least partially satisfy thedesignation of the attribute information. In addition to the foregoing,other sharing aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text,and form a part of the present application.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a capturingshared image device configurable to synchronize in a manner that atleast partially allows conveying at the capturing shared image device atleast some shared images with respect to at least another capturingshared image device that have been captured during a sharing session,wherein the capturing shared image device synchronizing can obtain atleast some images captured by the at least another capturing sharedimage device even when the capturing shared image device is notparticipating in the sharing session. In addition to the foregoing,other apparatus aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text,and form a part of the present application.

In one aspect, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a sharingmechanism operable to at least partially synchronize a transfer of atleast some shared images between a first capturing shared image deviceand a second capturing shared image device that were captured by thefirst capturing shared image device during a sharing session, whereinthe at least some shared images could have been captured at some timeduring the sharing session when the second capturing shared image devicewas not participating in the sharing session. In addition to theforegoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings; andtext, and form a part of the present application.

In one or more various aspects, related apparatus and systems includebut are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting theherein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming canbe virtually any combination of hardware, software, electro-mechanicalsystem, and/or firmware configured to effect the herein-referencedmethod aspects depending upon the design choices of the system designer.

In addition to the foregoing, various other method and/or system aspectsare set forth and described in the text (e.g., claims and/or detaileddescription) and/or drawings of the present application.

The foregoing contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizationsand omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art willappreciate that the foregoing is illustrative only and not intended tobe in any way limiting. Other aspects, features, and advantages of thedevices and/or processes and/or other subject matter described hereinwill become apparent in the text set forth herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a shared imagenetwork including a plurality of shared image devices;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the sharedimage network that includes a plurality of shared image devices;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of the sharedimage network that includes a plurality of shared image devices;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of the sharedimage network that includes a plurality of shared image devices;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram including one embodiment of a shared imagenetwork including a synchronizing shared image device;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram including one embodiment of a shared imagenetwork including a designating shared image device;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram including another embodiment of the sharedimage device;

FIG. 8 is a front view of one embodiment of a shared image system thatincludes one embodiment of an energy level indicator;

FIG. 9 is the front view of another embodiment of a shared image systemthat includes another embodiment of an energy level indicator;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a resolutionconversion technique that increases resolution;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a resolutionconversion technique that decreases resolution;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of a resolutionconversion technique that increases resolution;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the shared imagenetwork including a designating shared image device;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the shared imagenetwork including a synchronizing shared image device;

FIG. 15 shows a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a shared imagedevice having a computer/controller that can be used as a portion of asharing mechanism;

FIG. 16 shows a generalized front view of one embodiment of a viewfinderor display that can be integrated in a shared image device;

FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, 17 c, 17 d, 17 e, and 17 f is a flowchart of oneembodiment of a designation technique;

FIGS. 18 a and 18 b is a flowchart of one embodiment of a synchronizingtechnique;

FIG. 19 is a diagram of an embodiment of a designation technique;

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of multiple shared imagedevices;

FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of multiple shared imagedevices;

FIG. 22 shows a front view of one embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 23 shows a front view of another embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 24 shows a front view of yet another embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 25 shows a front view of still another embodiment of theviewfinder;

FIG. 26 shows a front view of yet another embodiment of the viewfinder;

FIG. 27 shows a front view of yet another embodiment of viewfinder wherean image that is being currently captured is being integrated into anumber of previously-captured images and

FIG. 28 shows one embodiment of a sharing menu display that act as aportion of a sharing mechanism.

The use of the same symbols in different drawings typically indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure describes a number of embodiments of a shared imagenetwork 100 that can include at least one sharing mechanism 102, suchthat at least one sharing mechanism 102 can be integrated in, and/orutilized by, at least one shared image device 101. Different embodimentsof the shared image network 100 are described with respect to FIGS. 1,2, 3, and 4. Certain embodiments of the shared image devices can capturean image and can be visualized as taking or imaging a photograph incertain embodiments. The present disclosure provides a number of thesesharing mechanisms 102 by which the shared images can be shared orcopied, and can either be transferred to other capturing shared imagedevices and/or other non-capturing shared image devices. In thisdisclosure, the term “capture” can apply to either imaging,photographing, or otherwise generating or producing shared images orportions thereof. Different embodiments of the shared image device 101can each perform one or more processes including certain ones of, butnot limited to: capturing, creating, processing, storing, printing,transferring, obtaining, retaining, displaying, and/or receiving theshared images. Different embodiments of the shared images can beconfigurable as still images and/or motion images (e.g., movingpictures). Many embodiments of the sharing mechanism 102 can beintegrated between one or more shared image device 101.

Within the disclosure, certain embodiments of the shared image devices101, such as digital cameras, camcorders, etc. that can capture sharedimage information are referred to as “capturing shared image devices”,which is distinct from those shared image devices 101 that cannotcapture shared image information. The capturing shared image devicessuch as digital cameras, still-picture cameras, motion picture cameras,or camcorders can be applied to photography. Many shared image devicesthat cannot capture images can be referred to within this disclosure as“peripheral shared image devices” since they perform such peripheralactions as storing, saving, store and forwarding, displaying, projectingand/or otherwise processing data associated with images. This disclosuredescribes a number of different operations and techniques that can beperformed by the shared image devices that include, but are not limitedto, designating an attribute of an image to be captured, synchronizingimages to be captured between multiple shared image devices, sharingimages between different shared image devices, and/or capturing sharedimages. It is to be understood that a single shared image device canperform one, or many of these operations. For example, a camera or otherdevices configured as the capturing shared image device can capturecertain shared images; it can also share other images with other sharedimage devices, and it can also designate an attribute of an image to becaptured by other shared image devices.

This disclosure describes certain aspects of synchronizing shared imagesbetween multiple shared image devices (e.g., for a duration of a sharingsession). Such synchronization allows, for example, a shared imagedevice to join a sharing session after other shared image devices jointhe sharing session, leave a sharing session prior to the end, and/orleave the sharing session after the beginning and return to the sharingsession prior to the end; and still be able to obtain many or all of theshared images that were captured during the shared session by certainones of all of the shared image devices. As such, even at times that theparticular shared image device was not present at the session. As such,a variety of sharing mechanisms are described in the disclosure thatallows a particular shared image device to obtain images that werecaptured when the particular shared image device was not present in thesession. Additionally, certain embodiments of shared image devices canobtain shared images that were captured when it was present in thesharing session, but still did not receive that image. In certainembodiments, a particular shared image device does not have to beenrolled in the sharing session during a sharing session to obtainimages captured relating to the sharing session.

This disclosure describes a number of embodiments of sharing mechanisms,by which one designating shared image device can designate an attributeby which images are captured by another capturing shared image device.Examples of attributes that may be designated to capturing shared imagedevice within this disclosure include, but are not limited to: format,pixel depth, subject, captured region, event, cost (micropayments),rights, creator, owner, size, transformation, use (e.g. providing abuddy icon on a desktop background that allows multiple shared imagedevices to share in a controllable fashion therebetween, but not withother shared image devices), attachments (e.g., other images, audio,metadata, etc.), promotions (e.g. image might contain a coupon), use(e.g. image might be usable in a game, or serve as a ticket). It is alsoto be understood, in certain embodiments but not others, an imagedesignating device may not have the capability to capture images. Forinstance, certain image designating devices may be configured to issueinstructions and/or information to a capturing shared image device abouthow the capturing shared image device should capture images. A varietyof user-interface techniques may be used by the user in combination withthe designating shared image device to determine images that are desiredto be captured including, but not limited to, menu-drive instructions;laser, optical, or other pointing devices; vocal or audio instructions,etc.

This disclosure can also provide a variety of mechanisms and/ortechniques by which an operational capacity of a shared image device canbe determined; and/or by which at least one operational resource toperform a transformation of one or more images can be determined. Incertain embodiments, the operational capacity can include, but is notlimited to, a shared image device energy level indicator, a devicebattery energy indicator, an available device power indicator, anavailable device memory indicator (the amount of memory often determinesthe number of still or motion images that can be captured or processedby a shared image device), and/or another available device(s)computational time indicator, etc. In certain embodiments of the sharedimage devices, the operational capacities are as described in thisdisclosure. In certain embodiments, the transformation of one or moreresources can include, but is not limited to, changing the resolution ofone or more images, changing the image exposure of one or more images,modifying the metadata for one or more images, modifying the imagecontent of one or more images, and/or adjusting the image composition ofone or more images, etc., such as described in this disclosure.

This disclosure can also provide a number of embodiments of mechanismsby which a resolution of one or more shared images contained in a sharedimage device 101 (configured either as a capturing shared image deviceand/or peripheral shared image device) can be transformed. As such, incertain embodiments of the shared image devices that contain the sharedimages having different resolutions, but not others, one or more of theshared image devices can transfer their shared images therebetweenfollowing the change of resolution. In addition, certain embodiments ofshared image devices may be capable of having multiple versions of oneor more images, multiple one(s) of which have different resolutions,depending upon their purpose and/or the particular configuration of theshared image device(s). For example, if the particular shared imagedevice such as a camera or camcorder is being utilized at a child'sbirthday party, then it may be desirable to have one of the shared imagedevices configured as a computer, and/or act as a camera-server tocontain high-resolution versions of all of the shared image devicesoccurring during that session. By comparison, other shared image devicesmay be configured as a capturing shared image device, which may containonly high-resolution images captured by that shared image device, andrelatively low-resolution images captured by other shared image devicesto, for example, allow more images to be captured or processed. If it isdesired for a particular capturing shared image device to downloadhigh-resolution versions of images, then in certain instances, but notothers, higher-resolution versions of the images can be downloaded from,for example, another camera-server or other shared image device that isstoring the higher-resolution images.

Within this disclosure, the term “changing the resolution” of an imagemay pertain in certain embodiments, but not others, to altering thecolor values and/or the color intensities of a particular image. Assuch, increasing the resolution of an image can pertain to increasingthe density of pixels, and can result from increasing variable colordensity values and/or color intensities of certain pixels and/or imageregions forming the image. Decreasing the resolution of an image canpertain to decreasing the density of the pixels, and can result fromdiminishing variable color density values and/or color intensity ofcertain pixels and/or image regions forming the image. During aresolution conversion process, in certain embodiments of a display orprojector, the footprint of pixels can be appropriately altered toeffectively change the resolution of the at least one image.

By providing such ability of the shared image devices to download orupload different-resolution versions of one or more images, it allowsthe shared image network 100 to share images of different resolutions,and/or different-resolution versions of the same images therebetween.

In certain embodiments, but not others, peripheral shared image devicescan exercise a certain amount of control over capturing shared imagedevices. For example, the peripheral shared image device can transmitmetadata and/or other image information to the capturing shared imagedevices to indicate, for example, to capture one or more images of aparticular subject, zoom, color intensity, resolution, etc.Additionally, in certain embodiments but not others, shared images canbe transmitted from a peripheral shared image device to a capturingshared image device. For example, the peripheral shared image device canbe configured to store a large number of images that can be returned toone or more capturing shared image devices upon their request.

In certain embodiments while not others, as described within thisdisclosure, certain peripheral shared image devices can transmit atleast some device operation information that can be received by at leastone shared image device. The device operation information can be used tovary the operational characteristics of the at least one shared imagedevice. Illustrative examples of operational characteristics of sharedimage devices that can be varied based on the transmission of the deviceoperation information from the peripheral shared image device caninclude, but is not limited to operating a shutter mechanism, selectinga location of an image, operating a zoom, and/or focusing the capturingshared image device. As such, transmitting at least some deviceoperation information from a peripheral shared image device to at leastone capturing shared image device can effectively alter an operation ofthe at least one capturing shared image device. In this manner, thetransmitting at least some device operation information can affect somecontrol of the peripheral shared image device over the operation of theat least one capturing shared image device.

In certain instances, at least one shared image device can be configuredto transmit a captured shared image information, at least partiallybased on instructions and/or other image information, from theperipheral shared image device to the at least one other shared imagedevice. In other instances, at least one shared image device can beconfigured to receive either stored shared images and/or shared imageseither directly or via another intermediate shared image device or otherdevice. As such, the peripheral shared image device in combination withthe at least one shared image device (that can capture, or contain,shared information) can, in certain embodiments, alone or incombination, provide a system by which a user, mechanism, or controllerat the peripheral shared image device can determine image(s) that are tobe transmitted from the at least one shared image device to theperipheral shared image device. For instance, one embodiment can includea number of shared image devices sharing shared images. In oneembodiment of the sharing mechanism 102 but not others, the peripheralshared image device can transmit a request for particular images from aparticular user, pertaining to a particular subject, including images ofa particular color characteristic, or including particular metadata,etc. As such, the peripheral shared image device can effectivelytransmit a query to one or more capturing shared image devices to returna particular image that may or may not have been captured. Such a querycan be responded to using appropriate recognition programs, and thesuitable image(s) can be returned to the peripheral shared image deviceas desired or in an appropriate order to be processed, displayed,analyzed, retained, obtained, and/or projected as appropriate for thatparticular shared image device. For instance, one or more members of asharing session, or other individuals, can view multiple images beingprojected, displayed, printed, retained, etc. by a number of capturingshared image devices that are transmitting certain ones of their sharedimages to a peripheral shared image device.

Within the disclosure, the terms shared image(s), image(s), imagerepresentation(s), image(s), or image information each pertain to fullimages, portions of images, segments of full images, magnified images,reduced resolution images, thumbnails of images, information thatdescribes particular images such as metadata. Metadata represents anexample of image information, or images, and can contain suchinformation as the subject of the image, identifying who took the image,a location where the image was captured, a reference number of theimage, etc. Within this disclosure, the terms “image representation” or“image” can pertain (among other things) to images, thumbnails ofimages, icons that pertain to images, portions of images, images havingaltered resolution, information pertaining to images such as metadata,etc. The term “obtain” applies to obtaining shared images either bycapturing or by data transfer from another shared image device. The term“retain” applies to storing shared images for some duration regardlesshow temporary or permanent the storage. In this disclosure, the term“broadcast” can apply to one or more of transmitting a shared image fromone shared image device in a manner such that the signal can be receivedby at least one (and usually multiple) other shared image device;transmitting to all other shared image devices, to all other sharedimage devices in the enrolled in a sharing session, or transmitting toonly certain selected shared image devices. Broadcast can also apply totransmitting to shared image devices arranged in a general network, amaster-satellite, a server-satellite, a peer-to-peer or point-to-point(alternatively, P2P) network configuration, or another networkconfiguration, certain ones of which are as described in thisdisclosure. As such, there are a wide variety of techniques that sharedimages can be transferred between pairs of shared image devices.

The terms “shared image devices” or “cameras” can apply to suchdissimilar devices as digital cameras, video cameras, and/or camcorders.The shared image device can capture certain embodiments of still imagesincluding, but not limited to, photographs or digital images. Certainembodiments of shared image devices such as a camcorder or motionpicture video camera can capture motion images such as videos. Theshared image devices can integrate a sharing mechanism to eithercapture, obtain, retain, store, or transfer such shared images. Avariety of embodiments of the sharing mechanism can therefore capture orotherwise process, retain, or obtain such exemplary shared images asdigital still images or digital motion images that are provided eitheralone or in combination with video, audio, music, etc.

Examples of Shared Image Devices

Examples of shared image devices 101 that are not configurable tocapture shared image information can include, but are not limited to,certain laptop computers, desktop computers, portable image store anddisplay devices, digital video disk (DVD) devices, personal displayassistants (PDA), printers, compact disk (CD) drives, IPods (a trademarkof Apple Computers and are made commercially available there from), etc.Certain embodiments of portable image store and display devices can beconfigurable to utilize peer-to-peer communications, and may be capableof transferring shared images there between. Certain embodiments of theshared image devices that cannot capture shared image informationoperate largely to retain, obtain, store, process, and/or display sharedimages.

In different embodiments, the sharing mechanism can be configurable toprovide a varying degree of automated publishing functions betweenmultiple shared image devices. Certain shared image(s) that are capturedby a shared image device can be distributed or transmitted to, and/orreceived by, other shared image devices, and thereby be “published” andmade public (and therefore can be considered to be no longer private).One embodiment of the sharing mechanism 102 allows the shared imagedevice 101 to toggle on/off publishing of the shared images to switchbetween the images being public and private. In certain embodiments,such publishing can be automatically set for a prescribed duration suchas temporally or more permanently defined by a “sharing session”, afterwhich duration the shared image devices each returns to theirnon-sharing configuration. In other embodiments, the sharing session canbe permanent or have a lengthy duration.

Certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 that include at leasta portion of the sharing mechanism 102 can be modifiable to provide avariety of functions. Many embodiments of shared image devices that cancapture shared images, such as cameras or camcorders, can also functionas storage devices to store some data pertaining to shared images.Certain capturing embodiments of shared image devices can also act as amemory acquisition device that obtains or retains pictures from othershared image devices. Other embodiments of the shared image device 101such as portable image storage and display devices can be configurableas storage devices, in which shared images can be stored, accessed,and/or displayed.

The very structure, nature, or operation of certain embodiments of suchshared image devices such as cameras, digital cameras, or camcorders arelikely to change as the associated technologies (e.g., displaying,digital signal processing, filtering, etc.) improves. It is likely thatdigital cameras and/or camcorders will develop greater memory storagecapabilities as the associated memory storage technologies improve. Inthis disclosure, multiple capturing shared image devices and/or multipleperipheral shared image devices could be “networked” in such a mannerthat a large number of images can be transferred between multiplecapturing shared image devices. Certain capturing shared image devicescan be optimized for their data storage or processing capabilities, andas such may act somewhat like computer servers. Other capturing sharedimage devices can be optimized for their photographic or zoomingabilities, and as such may be considered as true capturing or sharedimage devices. As the characteristics and abilities of different sharedimage devices vary more, the benefits of networking the shared imagedevices increases as well. Certain sharing concepts, as describedherein, enhance the networking aspects of the capturing shared imagedevices.

The resolution conversion portion can in certain embodiments, but notothers, act to alter the resolution of images that might have beencaptured or otherwise obtained. As described within this disclosure,certain embodiments of the resolution conversion portion may beconfigurable to increase or decrease the resolution of the image such asby utilizing pixel removal, pixel-interpolation, and/or combination ofpixels from multiple image techniques. Different embodiments of theresolution conversion portion are described herein. Within thisdisclosure, the terms “resolution conversion” and “resampling” can inmany instances, but not others, be considered similar since both canutilize processes that can include altering image intensity and/or colorvalues of the image. Resampling can in certain embodiments, but notothers, be equated to increasing or decreasing the resolution of atleast a portion of an image. Resampling can, in certain embodiments butnot others, be implemented by respectively adding or removing pixelsfrom a given image as described in this disclosure.

One embodiment of a shared image network 100 is described with respectto FIG. 7. One embodiment of the shared image network 100 can include ashared image device 101, an optional peripheral shared image device 120,and an optional communication link 104. The shared image device 101 canbe configurable to capture images. In different embodiments, the sharedimage device 101 can be alternatively configured as, but not limited to,a digital camera, a camcorder, a cellular phone with picture takingcapabilities, a computer or PDA with image processing and/or picturetaking capabilities, a printer, an image display etc. The shared imagedevice 101 can be operationally sub-divided into an imaging portion 615and data storage portion 614. Different embodiments of the shared imagedevice 101 can capture, photograph, image, print, display, save,store-and-forward, or otherwise process a variety of images including,but not limited to, still images, motion images, video, audio,thumbprints, or other information relating to the images such asmetadata. Different embodiments of the shared image device 101 can beconfigured to capture, obtain, retain, or otherwise process a variety ofimages including, but not limited to, color images, grayscale images,etc.

In this disclosure, “subscribing” pertains to a user joining theirshared image device (which, in different embodiments, can be configuredeither as a capturing shared image device or as a peripheral sharedimage device) in a session to provide shared images to and/or receiveshared images from other shared image devices. In certain embodiments ofthe shared image device, it can be desired to subscribe to differentfunctions using different mechanisms. While any combination ofparticular functions may be described with respect to this disclosure,this disclosure is intended to describe other shared image devices thatcan perform varied or alternative functions.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices 101 provide a sharingmechanism 102 by which certain shared image devices that are enrolled ina sharing session may not share every image that it is being captured.For example, certain images captured by a particular shared image devicemay be considered as private, and therefore may not be used in certainembodiments for general distribution during a sharing session with othermember shared image devices. Certain communication links 104 thatconnect between pairs of shared image devices can be private in onedirection while public in another direction, public in both directions,or private in both directions. For example, it may be desired toconfigure a communication link from a capturing shared image device to aperipheral shared image device to be either public or private; while thecommunication link from the peripheral shared image device to thecapturing shared image device can be the reverse or the same.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices 101 can provide suchoperations as, but are not limited to: performing active sharing betweenmultiple shared image devices, temporarily pausing or muting the activesharing, resuming the active sharing after temporarily pausing ormuting, connecting with other devices and/or people, or temporarilyperforming or delaying a variety of operations. Such temporary pausingor muting of sharing operations may be equated to temporarily halting asubscription for a particular shared image device; and in manyembodiments the shared images that were shared during this pausing ormuting period can be transmitted or collected after the pausing ormuting. Other aspects and concerns of sharing the shared images canrelate to managing the shared image devices. Examples of these tasksinclude controlling and selecting image resolution, allowing sharedimages to exit a particular shared image device but not enter the sameshared image device, or vice versa.

It is to be understood that certain embodiments of the shared imagedevice 101 can be configurable in a variety of network configurations,for example as described in this disclosure with respect to FIG. 1, 2,3, or 4. These network configurations are illustrative in nature, andnot limiting scope. Additionally, the multiple shared image devices thatare included in a particular network can frequently change theirassociation and operation. For example, the sharing mechanism 102 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1 can during a particular time periodinvolve the left-most satellite shared image device 101 b transmitting ashared image to the master shared image device 101 a. Within thisdisclosure, any reference to the number 101 followed by a letter (e.g.,101 a, 101 b, 101 g, etc) may indicate an instance of the shared imagedevice 101, such as described in this disclosure. The master sharedimage device 101 a can thereupon transmit another shared image toanother one of the satellite shared image devices 101 b during asubsequent period. In this disclosure, some description of the sharedimage device may be included (e.g., master shared image device,satellite shared image device, sharing shared image device, capturingshared image device, etc.). These descriptions are intended to bedescriptive in nature, and not limiting in scope, and it is to beunderstood that many of these shared image devices can perform a widevariety of functions in addition to that described. As such, thecommunications or networked configurations of multiple embodiments ofthe shared image devices can be fluid, changeable, and reliable totransfer a variety of shared images (that may be captured by one or moreshared image devices) in a substantially controllable fashion.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices 101, as described withrespect to FIGS. 1 to 4, can each include a portion of a share mechanism102, such as a share button, that the owner of the shared image device101 can actuate by such action as physically pressing. An actuatingportion of a sharing mechanism can act to join a number of shared imagedevices during a particular sharing session, and/or possibly performsome other function(s) relative to the sharing session. Actuatingportions of certain embodiments of share mechanisms 102 can beconveniently located on some external casing of a digital camera orcamcorder, or some other such location for easy actuation. Certainembodiments of the share mechanisms 102 can include those componentsand/or processes that allow one shared image device to share and/or copyimages with at least one other shared image device during a particularsharing session.

In another embodiment, a share mechanism 102 can be included in acomputer/controller based program to control the sharing process betweenmultiple shared image devices. As such, certain embodiments of sharemechanisms 102 can integrate a plurality of shared image devices, sincemore than one shared image device are involved in sharing images. Such ashare mechanism can include an actuating portion and/or anauthentication or authorization portion. The actuating portion canactuate the sharing mechanism between a number of shared image devices,a graphical user interface (GUI) or computer display that can displaycopies of the shared images to the users across multiple shared imagedevices, and an authentication or authorization portion that can provideauthentication or authorization between multiple shared image devices.

A number of other embodiments of the actuating portion of the sharingmechanism can differ considerably from a manually-actuated sharedmechanism (such as a share button) to more automatic type devices.Certain embodiments of such shared image devices can rely on proximitybetween shared image devices. Certain embodiments of the sharingmechanism 102 can utilize near-field shared image devices that arewithin a prescribed range that can be automatically actuated to copyand/or share the shared image information. In certain embodiments, theactuating portion of the share mechanism can even be remotely positionedfrom the associated shared image device 101, such as in a remote-controlof the type that is in common usage for television, etc.

In another embodiment as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4,physical contact may actuate a share mechanism 102 within plurality ofshared image devices 101. A Java ring (as produced and made commerciallyavailable by Dallas Semiconductor) provides an example of a commerciallyavailable actuating mechanism that can transmit data between numerousdevices resulting from physical contact of those devices. An embodimentof a share mechanism 102 can include a Java ring or other similar deviceto automate actuation of many aspects of sharing images between multipleshared image devices 101. In certain embodiments, the actuating portionof the share mechanism can be positioned remotely from the associatedshared image device 101, such as is well known in a remote control ofthe type that is in common usage for television, etc.

Examples of Synchronizing Shared Image Devices

FIG. 5 is a block diagram including one embodiment of a shared imagenetwork 100 including, but not limited to, a synchronizing shared imagedevice 101 e and a capturing shared image device 101 f. Also shown inFIG. 5 is a sharing shared image device 101 g that can transfer imagesbetween other ones of the shared image devices 101 f and 101 e viacertain one(s) of the communication links 104. In different embodiments,the communication links may be fashioned, for example, as a wirelesslink, a wired link, an Ethernet connection, a token-ring connection, orany other generally known networking connection. The shared imagedevices 101 e, 101 f, and/or 101 g, as described with respect to FIG. 5,can be located within the sharing region 103. The sharing region 103 maybe considered as a geographic region where shared image devices canshare shared images contained in one to another shared image device.Each of the shared image devices 101 e, 101 f, and/or 101 g may beconfigured as any of the variety of shared image devices 101, asdescribed within this disclosure. Shared images that are stored incertain shared image devices can be synchronized therebetween. As such,consider that a synchronizing shared image device 101 e (which eitherarrives late to join a sharing session, is not present during a portionof a sharing session, or departs early from a sharing session) canobtain captured shared images from a capturing shared image device 101f. The synchronizing shared image device 101 e can also indirectlyreceive shared images from the capturing shared image device 101 f viaan intermediate or sharing shared image device 101 g, as described withrespect to FIG. 5.

Within this disclosure, “synchronizing shared image devices” may beconsidered as those shared image devices that can obtain images throughsynchronization with other shared image devices. Within this disclosure,each shared image device referenced by the number 101, followed by aletter (e.g., 101 a, 101 b, 101 c, etc.), represent an example of theshared image device 101, as described within this disclosure. In certaininstances but not others, a shared image device can be configured toperform multiple functions. For example, a synchronizing shared imagedevice 101 e for one set of images as described with respect to FIG. 5can be quickly transition to become a capturing shared image device 101f, or alternatively a sharing shared image device 101 g, for another setof images. In addition, for such events as a news conference or anawards ceremony, it may be necessary to have a fewer number of capturingshared image devices that are each configured to capture images, assynchronized by, for example, one or more synchronizing shared imagedevices 101 e.

Different embodiments of shared image devices 101 can obtain some or allof the images made available by other shared image devices for a varietyof reasons. For example, certain shared image devices have limitedmemory, and as such are available to download a relatively small numberof images that can be provided during the sharing session. In addition,a particular sharing session may involve a large number of shared imagedevices, at least certain ones to which may be capturing a large numberof images. As such, it may be undesirable to have to proceed through allof the images taken by all of the shared image devices during thesharing session. As such, a filter mechanism may be used to forward, orreceive, only those images that are desired to particular shared imagedevices.

It is likely that within a single sharing session, similar shared imagesmay be stored in different versions, (e.g., certain ones of thedifferent versions of images can be stored having a different amount ofdata such that different versions of the same images can have differentresolutions). As such, a particular shared image device may capture arelatively high-resolution version of an image pertaining to the owner'sfriends or family, but may contain a considerable number of lowerresolution images pertaining to others at the event. With differentversions of similar images relating to a shared session, it may bedesired to change versions, but such transitions as changing versionshave to be balanced such that, for example quality of images arebalanced against battery life, storage life, etc. Synchronizing providesa mechanism that allows owners of a particular shared image device toobtain those particular images from the shared session that are desired.

Synchronizing may take the form of a particular user desiring to obtainimages captured by one or more capturing shared image device 101 f, thatwere captured within the prescribed period, at a particular location,having a particular metadata, etc. As such, synchronizing can obtain allof, or only some of, the images from a capturing shared image device.

One architecture for an “arena scenario” using shared image devices 101,for example, is one in which the sharing region or venue is configuredwith one or more capturing shared image devices 101 f that areconfigured to capture raw images. The captured images can be fed to asharing shared image device 101 g that can share the shared image with asynchronizing shared image device 101 e. In this configuration, thedesignation by the designating device is passed through the intermediatedevice (possibly utilizing logic such as with hardware, software, and/orfirmware, e.g. to decide which actual capturing device to use tocapture). The captured image can then be routed back through the centraldevice (possibly with considerable processing and even the generation ofalternate images from the same “captured” one).

Examples of (Attribute) Designating Shared Image Devices

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of the shared image network 100 that caninclude at least one designating shared image device 101 j, perhaps atleast one capturing shared image device 101 h, and perhaps oneintermediate or sharing shared image device 101 i. The shared imagedevices 101 h, 101 i, and/or 101 j can be located within the sharingregion 103 as illustrated in FIG. 6, and as described with respect toFIG. 5. In certain instances, certain ones of the shared image devices101 h, 101 i, and/or 101 j can communicate with each other eitherdirectly or via an intermediate device, over the communication links104.

In certain instances, the designating shared image device 101 j can beconfigurable to designate one or more attributes that the capturingshared image device 101 h can utilize to capture shared images. It is tobe emphasized that many shared image devices can perform differentfunctions with respect to different images. For example, a designatingshared image device 101 j that designates a first set of images can bereconfigured as a capturing shared image device 101 h, or alternativelyas a sharing shared image device 101 i for yet another set of images.Within this disclosure, a fluidity of function between two shared imagedevices can be more relevant than dictating which particular sharedimage device captured a particular image. For example, for such eventsas a news conference or an awards ceremony, it may be necessary to havea fewer number of capturing shared image devices be configured tocapture other images, as designated by, for example, the designatingshared image devices 101 j.

Examples of these attributes that the designating shared image device101 j can designate at a capturing shared image device include, but arenot limited to: format, pixel depth, subject, captured region, event,cost (e.g., payments), rights, creator, owner, size, transformation, use(e.g. providing a buddy icon on a desktop background that allowsmultiple shared image devices to controllably share images therebetween,but not with other non-buddy shared image devices), attachments (e.g.,audio or certificates), promotions (e.g. certain shared images mightcontain a coupon), use (e.g. image might be usable in a game, or serveas a ticket). For example, it may be desired for the designating sharedimage device 101 j to communicate a designation to the capturing sharedimage device 101 h that its user wishes images to be captured at aparticular location, including certain individuals, etc. Alternatively,the designating shared image device may designate their request to takeone or more still images or moving images at a particular time withinthis field of view.

Another likely designating scenario includes the “arena scenario”. Inthis scenario, the designation by the designating shared image devicecan be inserted embodiments, or might not be, passed through theintermediate or sharing shared image device (possibly utilizing logicsuch as a with hardware, software, and/or firmware to, e.g. designatewhich attribute to designate to the capturing shared image device to beused to capture images). The captured image can then be routed backthrough the sharing shared image device 101 i (possibly withconsiderable processing and even the generation of alternate images fromthe same capturing shared image device 101 h).

Virtually any attribute that can be controlled to effect an operation ofa shared image device, such as a camera, to be designated by thedesignating shared image device 101 j. For example, F-stop, flashoperation, zooming operations, etc. represent certain, but not all,attributes that can be designated to the designating shared imagedevice.

Examples of Shared Image Devices Whose Operations Rely On Proximity

In certain embodiments, various users can thereby transfer video,images, or some other type of information based on the proximity ofshared image devices 101. Any combination of a plurality of capturingshared image device(s) and/or peripheral shared image device(s) canutilize proximity therebetween to establish the sharing mechanism 102. Avariety of embodiments of the shared image device 101 can thereby relyon a variety of types of proximity between multiple sharing ones of theshared image devices to allow their sharing such as described in theabove-incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/069,909. Regionalproximity pertains to a proximity of at least one shared image devicewithin a sharing region, such as described in the above-incorporatedpatent application Ser. No. 11/122,274, entitled REGIONAL PROXIMITY FORSHARED IMAGE DEVICE(S). The embodiment of geographic proximity,proximity utilizing a communication link 104, and/or proximity utilizingpasswords, pass-phrases, patterns on paper, and the like as describedwithin this disclosure with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4 can vary, and serveas examples of proximity between shared image devices.

A variety of embodiments of the shared image network 100 are describedherein such that a number of shared image devices 101 are containedwithin the sharing region 103 (see, e.g., FIG. 5 or 6). Within thisdisclosure, the sharing region 103 can represent two-dimensional orthree-dimensional geographic area or volume in which the shared imagedevices are intended to operate. The sharing region can be setdifferently in a variety of embodiments such as, for example, for afixed time duration, or for as long as a shared image device, or anotherdevice, is positioned proximately of the sharing region. In certainembodiments, a particular user can set up a sharing region as desiredbased on, for example, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates,field of view of one or more shared image devices, defined locatingrelative to a particular building or structure, etc. A variety ofconfigurations of sharing regions 103 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) are describedherein, including those sharing regions that are established withrespect to a shared image device, those sharing regions that areestablished with respect to a fixed area, and/or those sharing regionsthat are established with respect to a combination of a shared imagedevice and a fixed area. If in certain embodiments, positionalinformation such as provided by a global positioning system (GPS),Loran, etc., can be utilized to determine positional coordinates of thesharing region.

In certain embodiments, any shared image device of the type beingutilized by the sharing session that is within the sharing region may beallowed to join the sharing session. In other embodiments, the user ofthe shared image device may have to provide a password to join thesharing session. In still other embodiments, the user of the sharedimage device can provide a sharing password in addition to being withinthe sharing region to join the sharing session. As such, there are avariety of permissible techniques that can be utilized to join thesharing session, that are within the intended scope of the presentdisclosure.

In certain instances, but not others, a particular sharing region 103 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1 may be temporarily and/orgeographically defined to correspond to a particular sharing session. Assuch, a sharing session may be established relative to a particulargeographic location for a particular duration, such as within a child'shouse for a duration of a birthday party, or within a reception area fora duration of a wedding. In certain instances but not others, thesharing region in the sharing session can thereby be geographicallyrelated to the particular area for the duration of the session, such asa particular person's house, park, building, commercial setting, sportsevent, business event, etc.

In many embodiments, the term “proximity” indicates that shared imagedevices 101 are sufficiently close to operably couple with each otherand/or other devices within the sharing region, such as to establish acommunication link 104. In certain embodiments, a wireless link canprovide the geographic proximity that allows data transfer of the sharedimages or portions thereof.

In one embodiment, the multiple shared image devices 101 can operablycouple within the shared image network 100 using a series ofcommunication links 104; different embodiments of the communicationlinks are described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4. A variety ofembodiments of optical communication links 104 are within the intendedscope of the present disclosure. Different embodiments of thecommunication link 104 can include, for example: a wireless link, an802.11-based link, an infra-red data transfer link, a wired-based link,a physical-contact sharing mechanism that can transmit data uponphysical contact, or any other type of link that allows for sufficientdata to be transmitted between pairs of shared image devices 101.

Certain embodiments of the wireless communication link can utilize avariety of electromagnetic radiation to transmit data. Theelectromagnetic radiation that provides one embodiment of the wirelesscommunication link 104 can include, but is not limited to, infrared,ultraviolet, near infrared, and/or optical signals. In one embodiment, adevoted optical communication link can cause data corresponding to theimages to be transmitted between respective shared image devices. Thecommunication link 104 can be configurable, in one embodiment, tooperably couple a transmitting shared image device to a receiving sharedimage device. The transmitter, receiver, and/or transceiver portions ofthe communication link are to be configurable to carry sufficient dataover the communication link considering the current task and/or networkconfiguration.

In another embodiment, a camera flash can act as a communication link.The intensity of the camera flash can be modulated between differentlevels (including, but not limited to, turning the flash on and off) totransfer a variety of shared image data. Such directing of the opticalflash in a suitable direction should act such that reflected light doesnot interfere with the modulated incident light produced by the cameraflash.

One advantage of using certain embodiments of the camera flash or othersuch wireless link is that multiple receiving shared image devices cansimultaneously obtain shared images from a single transmitting sharedimage device (e.g., by the multiple receiving shared image devicesreceiving the same camera flash or other optical-link that is configuredto transmit data substantially simultaneously).

In many embodiments of the interrelated shared image devices 101 asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4, the authentication of multipleshared image devices 101 implies that the shared image devices 101 besufficiently closely spaced (considering the technology to be utilized)to allow communications therebetween and/or within the sharing region,such as over the particular communication links. The shared imagedevices can rely on authentication and/or authorization to share images,image information, etc. with other shared image devices. Suchauthentication and/or authorization can often be inferred by geographicproximity, password proximity, and/or other types of proximity asdescribed within this disclosure between multiple ones of the sharedimage devices depending upon the particular situation (while in otherembodiments, this is not true). As such, in certain embodiments, sharedimage devices 101 that are associated with a particular wedding,children's birthday party, business meeting, or other event, etc. mayestablish the implicit/explicit authorization or authentication betweenmultiple shared image devices. Such authorization or authentication maybe based at least partially on the geographic (e.g., physical) proximitybetween shared image devices, and at least partially result from thoseshared image devices being located at the same event or sharing session,as/or within the sharing region. In many instances, the level ofauthentication or authorization for many shared image device events,such as birthday parties, may be assumed to be relatively low, while inothers it may not be. Many of the concepts described herein can expandinto other forms of geographic or temporal proximity depending upon theparticular technology to be used.

Different embodiments of geographic-based proximity can range to avariety of dimensions including from within inches, to in the same room,to within the same building, to be capable of accessing the samewireless LAN, or to be in the same stadium, part of a city, or beyonddepending upon the technologies associated with the particularapplication or the communication link. In considering the application ofcertain commercially available transmitter/receiver capabilities,Bluetooth (a trademark of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a tradeassociation) has an effective range of approximately 10 meters. WirelessFidelity (WiFi, refers in this disclosure generically to any type of802.11 network) can be located in a house or building, and can have anarbitrarily large range (especially by locating replicators or repeatersin each communication link 104 between multiple pairs of shared imagedevices 101). As such, shared image devices 101 can effectivelycommunicate to each other through relatively extensive communicationlinks 104 of variable dimensions. If a particular shared image device101 has WiFi capabilities, the shared image device can have access tothe Internet.

If the shared image network 100 is established as a close-proximityshared image network, each user can be provided with their individual“shared image device” 101 that can each be somehow proximally locatedwith respect to the sharing image network during its sharing session.Each shared image device can be configurable to join the sharingsession, and thereby synchronize their shared image device 101 to thecurrent shared image devices.

In certain embodiments but not others, one shared image device 101 cancontinuously have its sharing mechanism actuated as to be in a sharingstate. For example, a user can walk into a room, a building, and outsidearea, or another two-dimensional or three-dimensional area that containsa number of friends or associates that are currently enrolled in thesharing session, position the new shared image device 101 within theproximity of at least one of their shared image devices, and the sharedimages can be transferred utilizing such a technique such as beingsynchronized or quick-synched to the new shared image device 101 overthe communications link. Such areas can be described relatively to somegeographical area (e.g., a sharing region, relative to one or more othershared image devices, or relative to a field of view from a particularat least one shared image device).

Certain commercially-available cellular phones include embedded cameras(therefore providing photographic capabilities) that can be configurablesuch that the images are transferred from that camera cellular phone toat least one other camera cellular phone, at least one land-phone, or atleast one other receiving device using either a wireless, or some othersuitable, connection. Many of these commercially-available cameracellular phones can thereby be considered to “push” one or more imagesto another device (such as a cellular phone, a computer, a personaldisplay assistant (PDA), etc.) with a display. Such transfer mechanismsthat “push” these pictures utilize the Internet, e-mail, or a similarfile-transfer addressing mechanism (e.g., e-mail address or someassociated addressing scheme). In certain embodiments, addressing thedata associated with photographs can take some time, while in otherembodiments such addressing is simplified. Addressing can be challengingin situations where the address of the recipient shared image device 101is unknown or inaccessible. Certain embodiments of shared image devicescan utilize addressing mechanisms.

Many embodiments of shared image devices 101, as described in thisdisclosure with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4, that include the sharingmechanisms 102 can transfer copies of shared images to at least oneother shared image device 101. Such transfer of copies of shared imagescan thereby allow accessing of certain images, videos, audio, and/orother types of media produced by the other shared image devices 101during a prescribed sharing session. Many embodiments of shared imagedevices 101 do not provide an addressing mechanism to transfer theshared images between different ones of the sharing devices (e.g.,capturing and/or peripheral devices) during a particular sharingsession. As such, a broadcast transfers data between many of theembodiments of the shared image devices. FIGS. 1 to 4 show a number ofembodiments of the shared image networks 100, each of the sharing imagenetworks can include a number of similarly configured shared imagedevices 101, in which each of the shared image devices includes itsrespective sharing mechanism 102.

Within this disclosure, many embodiments of capturing shared imagedevices can be considered as similarly configured while others are not.Similarly, any embodiments of peripheral shared image devices can beconsidered as similarly configured while others are not. In thisdisclosure, the terms “similarly configured”, “similarly configurable”,or alternatively “similar” as applied to many embodiments of the sharedimage devices 101, can pertain to how each shared image device 101processes or relates to its respective shared images. For example,certain embodiments of digital cameras, camcorders, video cameras, etc.can be configurable as capturing shared image devices that are capableof capturing, transferring, retaining, or obtaining such shared imagesas still images or motion images. In the embodiment as described withrespect to FIGS. 1 and 2, shared image devices 101 are each configurableto be similar in general structure or operation, such that each sharedimage device is configurable as a capturing device such as a digitalcamera or camcorder that can be connected using, for example,point-to-point techniques or master-satellite techniques. Each capturingshared image device can capture, photograph, display, generate, receive,or process similar shared images such as digital images or video.

In many imaging situations, the resolution, imaging quality, and imagingcharacteristics of shared images are dependent on that particular sharedimage device that is performing the imaging. As such, even though sharedimage information may be shared between multiple shared image devices,the imaging quality of that shared image depends on the particularshared image device that images or captures (e.g., photographs) theshared information. As such, it may be desirable to capture many of theimages with a high-quality shared image device (e.g., a relativelyexpensive high resolution imaging device) by using a number of sharedimage devices of the types as described in this disclosure.

Under different circumstances, certain users of the shared image devicesmay desire to store a relatively large number of captured images withintheir shared image device. As such, it may be desirable to utilizelower-resolution shared image devices to capture lower-resolutionversions of certain images.

In certain instances, an optimal resolution of the images that may becaptured by the different shared image device(s) may not be a decidingfactor for a potential user selecting to share images with a particularshared image device. Perhaps a particularly good photographer is using aparticular shared image device. Alternately, perhaps a shared imagedevice is capturing a particularly desirable subject. Perhaps aparticular shared image device can take excellent pictures under certaincircumstances, for some known or unknown reason. Certain capturingshared image devices may rely upon an optical or a software-base zoomingtechnique. As such, many participants in the sharing session may beinterested in obtaining such shared images based on their inherentquality or value.

The combination of the shared image devices for a particular sharingsession, as described in this disclosure, provides a technique by whichone or more particular shared image devices can be selected to capture aparticular shared image of a type such that shared image device may bethe most appropriate.

Many embodiments of digital cameras can capture, process, display,generate, or receive digital images. Certain peripheral shared imagedevices 120 (e.g., printers, fax machines, PDAs, copiers, etc.) maygenerally be considered as a peripheral device, and not a similar deviceto digital cameras since such peripheral shared image devices cannotcapture shared images, and can only perform such peripheral functions asprinting, retaining, or displaying shared images. A sharing mechanismmay be configurable to convey shared image information either alone, orin combination with audio, data, or a variety of other types ofinformation as described herein.

The embodiment of the shared image network 100, described with respectto FIG. 1, can be referred to as a master-satellite configuration sinceone of the shared image devices 101 is designated as, and acts as, amaster shared image device 101 a for a particular sharing session. Themaster shared image device can receive the shared images generatedeither alone and/or with other ones of the satellite shared imagedevices 101 b that are designated in FIGS. 1 and 3 as 101 b. Thesatellite shared image devices 101 b can be operatively coupled to themaster shared image device 101 a such that in the certain embodiments.Certain ones of the portions of the shared images, that may have beencaptured or created by the shared image devices 101, can be shared asdesired among the satellite shared image devices 101 b.

In certain embodiments, the satellite shared image devices 101 b canalso receive certain ones of the shared images that have been capturedby other ones of the shared image devices 101. Certain embodiments ofsuch satellite shared image devices can receive lower resolutionversions of the received shared images that have been captured duringthe sharing session.

In the embodiments of the shared image network 100 that is describedwith respect to FIGS. 1 and 3, each similar satellite shared imagedevice 101 b can be operably coupled to the respective master sharedimage device 101 a or computer or controller 603 (e.g. of FIGS. 7 and/or15) by, for example, a respective signal connection such as thecommunication link 104. The communication link can be functionallysubdivided into a transmitter portion and/or a receiver portion, oralternatively a transceiver portion that is secured to each shared imagedevice. Certain embodiments of the master shared image devices 101 a canthereby control, to some degree, the shared images that can be receivedby each particular satellite shared image devices 101 b. In otherembodiments of the shared image network 100 that include a master sharedimage device 101 a; a signal connection such as the communication link104 can also extend between certain ones of the satellite-shared imagedevices 101 b.

Each communication link 104 should provide sufficient bandwidth toensure effective transfer of the shared images (e.g., images, portionsof the images, metadata, video segments, and/or video stills) betweenthe appropriate shared image devices 101. Providing such effectiveshared image transfer can ensure satisfactory operation of the sharedimage network 100 as described in this disclosure.

FIG. 2 can be considered to show one embodiment of a peer-to-peer sharedimage network 100, in which each shared image device 101 can connect toat least one other shared image device by at least one communicationlink 104. In certain embodiments of the peer-to-peer shared imagenetwork 100, indirect connections (such as multiple communication links104) can extend, in series, between multiple pairs of shared imagedevices. Such communication links 104 can therefore transmit sharedimages between multiple pairs of serially-extending shared image devices101 or over multiple serially-extending communication links 104.

The embodiment of the shared image network 100, as described withrespect to FIG. 2, includes a number of shared image devices 101 thatmay act as a peer-to-peer network. Certain embodiments of peer-to-peershared image networks can be configurable in which each shared imagedevice can perform both those functions that are traditionallyassociated with a server device and those functions that aretraditionally associated with a client device. As such, in manyembodiments, shared images can pass between different ones of thepeer-to-peer arranged shared image devices relatively freely as to beavailable to any member shared image device of a particular sharingsession.

In certain embodiments of the shared image network 100, each sharedimage device 101 can be configurable to be capable of accessing theshared images captured by other ones of shared image devices 101 duringthe sharing session.

As described with respect to FIG. 2, the peer-to-peer configuration maybe desired for relatively simple device configuration, set-up, and use;and may also be desirable since no mechanism can be provided in certainembodiments to reduce the number of shared images that are beingtransmitted by any one of shared image devices 101. Certain embodimentsof the peer-to-peer model may be easier to implement since with thepeer-to-peer model, each shared image device 101 (such as a digitalcamera) can be configurable to operate similarly to the other sharedimage devices. In many instances with the peer-to-peer model, no singleshared image device overviews the entire operation of the shared imagenetwork. Instead, all the shared image devices interact to provide thesharing, according to peer-to-peer concepts. For example, the differentshared image devices in a peer-to-peer network can be configurable tooperate similarly, and can be configurable to act as either a clientand/or a server at any suitable particular time during shared imagenetwork operations.

FIG. 3 can be considered to show another embodiment of the shared imagenetwork 100 that includes a number of shared image devices 101. Thisembodiment is similar to the embodiment as described with respect toFIG. 1, with the exception that the master shared image device 101 a canbe configured as a dissimilar device such as a peripheral device (e.g.,a computer or controller 603 of FIG. 7 or 15 instead of another type ofshared image device 101). In different embodiments, the computer orcontroller 603 may be configured as any type of recognized computingdevice including, but not limited to: a desktop, a laptop, aworkstation, a personal display assistant (PDA), a microprocessor, amicrocomputer, etc. The computer or controller 603, as well as othershared image devices, can provide a store-and-forward operation bycontrollably storing for some duration (regardless of how temporary orpermanent is the duration), optionally processing, and then forwardingthe shared images. There can additionally be intermediate shared imagedevices, or other devices, located between multiple shared imagedevices. Under certain circumstances, especially where there are aconsiderable number of shared image devices generating many sharedimages, the FIG. 3 embodiment that relies on the computer or controller603 to provide processing, filtering, etc. may be desired. Suchnetworking concepts relating to computers, clients, servers, and datatransfer between computers as are generally well-known, and will not befurther detailed in this disclosure. One purpose of the computer orcontroller 603 with respect to the shared image network 100 is to obtainor retain the shared images generated by the other shared image devices101, and thereupon provide for the retrieval of the generated sharedimages.

Certain computers acting as servers might be named based on the datathat they can store or produce (e.g., file servers, data servers, webpage servers, etc.). As such, certain embodiments of the computer orcontroller 603 as described with respect to FIG. 3 can act as a sharedimage server. One aspect of using certain embodiments of the computer orcontroller 603 instead of certain embodiments of master shared imagedevice 101 a (in a master/satellite configuration) is that certainembodiments of the computer or controller 603 is likely to beconfigurable to allow more varied image processing, data handling, orother operations.

As such, certain ones of the satellite shared image devices 101 b can beconfigurable as the computer or controller 603 to be capable of handlingqueries relatively quickly and accurately. In certain embodiments, theusers of certain shared image devices 101 can therefore include queriesdirected to the particulars of the sought shared images. Anotheradvantage of certain computers or controllers 603 is that the storagecapability of certain embodiments of the computers or controllers cansubstantially match a value of the number of captured shared imagesduring a sharing session.

Example of Proximity-Based Sharing Technique

This disclosure described a number of embodiments of proximity-basedsharing techniques. One embodiment of a proximity-based sharingtechnique utilizes a computer or controller of the type described withrespect to FIG. 7 or 15. Within the disclosure, flowcharts of the typedescribed in this disclosure apply to method steps as performed by acomputer or controller. The flowcharts can also apply to apparatusdevices, such as a shared image device 101 that includes, e.g., ageneral-purpose computer or specialized-purpose computer whose structurealong with the software, firmware, electro-mechanical devices, and/orhardware, can perform the process or technique described in theflowchart.

Since multiple shared image devices can share data (at least one thatsends the shared image information and at least one that receives theshared image information), each shared image device can form a portionof the sharing mechanism. In certain embodiments, actuating theactuating mechanism of a sharing mechanism can cause a particular sharedimage device to share or publish to other similar shared image devices.Such sharing or publishing can occur even if there is not another sharedimage device in sufficiently close geographic proximity, based largelyon inclusions of additional shared image devices (each of which includesa store-and-forward mechanism). The additional shared image devices canbe configurable to allow serial data transmission through a sequence ofsuch intermediate located shared image devices that operatively couplethe terminal shared image devices. The store-and-forward mechanism cantemporarily store data in one of these shared image devices, and cangenerate copies of stored shared images in the form of data from thatshared image device following a desired prescribed duration.

Under certain circumstances, only one shared image device may be amember of a session. For example, if a user of a particular shared imagedevice 101 is the first one to join a sharing session (e.g., get to anevent such as a child's birthday party), then that first user maycapture certain pertinent images, and the sharing mechanism allowsothers to access the pictures captured by the first user of a sharedimage device 101 at that sharing session. As such, at one particulartime, only a single shared image device may join the sharing session,and effect sharing or copying of the shared images. Prior to a weddingor child's birthday, for example, a professional photographer maycapture a number of images that pertain to preliminary events of thatsharing session, and which would perhaps be desirable to other sessionmembers who would join that sharing session. In another instance, aleader of a business meeting may prepare a set of shared images prior tothe meeting that relate to the meeting, and which would subsequently beaccessible by other members of the meeting.

In other embodiments, at least two shared image devices 101 mightestablish a particular sharing session. For example, assume thatmultiple shared image devices can be configurable as disposable cameraswhose session shared images can be shared, processed, and/or madeaccessible. In certain embodiments, but not others, multiple sharedimage devices (such as those of the disposable variety) can be soldtogether to be associated with a prescribed sharing session, such as abirthday, wedding, business event, etc.

Other embodiments of shared image devices are likely to be associatedwith a single owner for a longer duration, and can be provided with acontrollable sharing mechanism to allow multiple shared image devices tobe controllably configurable to interface with each other for a distinctduration of, e.g., a distinct sharing session. Many embodiments of theshared image devices can be controllably adjustably configurable toallow the shared image device to join another session. In certainembodiments a single shared image device can perhaps even join multiplesimultaneous sharing sessions.

In considering certain embodiments of the master-satellite configurationas described with respect to FIG. 1, the master shared image device (andperhaps not the satellite shared image device) can originally access thefull resolution versions of the shared images as captured by each sharedimage device. In certain embodiments, satellite shared image devices canbe provided with lower-resolution shared image versions such as, but notlimited to: thumbnails of the shared images, portions of the sharedimages, miniaturized portions of the shared images, low-resolutionversions of the shared images, metadata pertaining to the shared images,etc. The users at the satellite shared image devices (that can beconfigured either as capturing and/or peripheral shared image devices)can then select those shared images that they desire to obtain orretain.

The particular configuration of shared image devices and the sharedimages can largely represent a design choice based on intended usage,and networking or device configurations and operating characteristics.These particular configurations can be selected depending upon theparticular sharing session, event type, shared image device 101 type orother operational characteristic, and can be selected by the “owner” orother participants of each particular sharing session. In someembodiments where a satellite shared image device has insufficientmemory storage to store the full versions of the shared images that havebeen captured for a particular sharing session, the master shared imagedevice can be provided with sufficient data storage to contain the fullversions of the shared images that are being captured during the sharingsession.

In certain embodiments but not others, at least some of the sharedimages that are being stored at the master shared image device will havethe highest resolution available so that when particular full imageversions are requested from the at least certain other ones of theshared image devices 101, the particular requested images can beprovided.

In certain embodiments of the shared image networks of shared imagedevices 101 (while not with other embodiments), one purpose is to ensurethose shared images captured by each one of shared image devices havebeen accessed, captured, stored, printed out, or has undergone somedesired action. As such, in certain embodiments, each shared imagedevice 101 may not obtain all the copies of each shared image generatedby every shared image device for that sharing session. As such, incertain embodiments, it may be useful for a user of at least one sharedimage device 101 to provide a peripheral device (such as a printer orportable image storage device such as a CD drive) at a sharing session.The peripheral device may thereupon print and/or obtain and/or retainthe desired shared images for each user of the member shared imagedevices 101 that are associated with the sharing session who wish tohave the images in printed or stored form.

In one embodiment, a shared image device 101 can include a timeoutmechanism for many, all, or certain sharing sessions. As such, if a userof a shared image device 101 leaves the sharing session, and they forgetto deactivate the sharing mechanism, then the timeout mechanism candeactivate the shared image device with respect to the sharing sessionafter a prescribed amount of time. Certain embodiments of the sharingsession can include multiple shared image devices 101 that each includesa timeout mechanism such that the sharing session terminates soon afterthe last member of the sharing session (and their shared image device)leaves the proximity of the session.

Examples of Sharing Images with Peripheral Shared Image Devices

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the shared image network 100 that caninclude a number of shared image devices 550, in which many of sharedimage devices 550 are incapable of capturing images and are thereby arein many ways dissimilar from those embodiments of the capturing sharedimage devices. As described with respect to FIG. 4, one or more sharedimage devices 550 that are configurable as a peripheral shared imagedevice can be contained within a peripheral shared image device portion532. The number of shared image devices 550 that are included within theperipheral shared image device portion 532 as described with respect toFIG. 4 provides a number of examples of peripheral shared image devices.Additionally, one or more shared image device 550 that are eachconfigurable as a capturing shared image device can be contained withina capturing shared image device portion 530. The number of shared imagedevices 550 that are included within the capturing shared image deviceportion 530 as described with respect to FIG. 4 provides multipleexamples of capturing shared image devices. Those shared image devicesthat are contained within the capturing shared image device portion 530can be configurable as capturing shared image devices, to primarilycapture images (e.g., capture images, image information, orphotographs). Those shared image devices that are contained within theperipheral shared image device portion 532 can be configurable asperipheral shared image devices, which are primarily configurable toperform some other function to the shared images from capturingincluding, but not limited to, obtaining, retaining, storing,displaying, transferring, printing, segmenting, and otherwiseprocessing. Certain shared image devices 101, such as a peripheralshared image device 550 (for example a memory drive device or computer)as contained within the peripheral shared image device portion 532, oralternately, certain capturing shared image devices 550 as containedwithin the capturing shared image device portion 530, are configurableto store and/or store and forward the shared images.

FIG. 4 provides an example of a network configuration including aplurality of shared image devices 101 in which at least one deviceoperation of a capturing shared image device (e.g., which are containedin the capturing shared image device portion 530) can be controlled byone or more peripheral shared image devices. Such control can becontained in the peripheral shared image device portion 532. Examples ofthe device operation that can be controlled include, but are not limitedto, altering an operation, altering a shutter control operation,altering resolution control, altering zoom control, altering animaging-location-control operation (which can control where a remotecamera and/or the user thereof is taking an image), etc. In effect, thisdisclosure provides a mechanism by which control device operations suchas are performed in capturing shared image devices can be allowed incertain embodiments of remote shared image devices, such as certainperipheral shared image devices.

For example, it may be desired to couple a capturing shared image devicesuch as a digital camera or camcorder with one or more peripheral sharedimage devices such as a printer, a projector, a computer, and/or a CDburner. Such a combination of dissimilar shared image devices might, ormight not, be associated with a similar combination of shared imagedevices. For example, one or more shared image devices such as a digitalcamera can be associated with a dissimilar shared image device such as aprinter, computer, or projector either for a particular sharing sessionor permanently.

Alternatively, one or more capturing shared image devices such as adigital camera or camcorder can be associated with a dissimilar sharedimage device such as a printer, computer, or projector. Each of thesedissimilar shared image devices may be capable of utilizing the sharedimages in a distinct manner. However, each of the shared image devices550 could also share similar shared images relating to a single groupsharing session (such as digital images) in its own distinct manner.

In certain embodiments, the printer, or other peripheral shared imagedevice, can be configured as a peer in a peer-to-peer configuration, oralternately as a master or satellite in a master-satelliteconfiguration, during the sharing session. For example, one shared imagedevice can be configurable as a capturing shared image device such as adigital camera or camcorder at the session to capture shared images fromother capturing shared image devices as described with respect to FIGS.1 to 4. In certain embodiments, but not others, the users can accessother pictures based on the thumbnails or other reduced-resolutionversions of the shared images that are provided. As such, a printerperipheral device can be used to print out, or a memory device canstore, a certain number of the thumbnails, portion of images, or fullshared images that can be selected by the user at one or more of theshared image devices 550. A projector can be configurable as aperipheral device that can project a variety of images relating to thatsession, as well as other images in certain embodiments. Peripheralshared image devices that can be configurable as a printer can printselected shared images from that same group sharing session. Yet otherperipheral shared image devices that can be configurable as a CD burneror storage can more permanently store image information for a particularsession.

From a high-level aspect and embodiment, a variety of distinct types ofshared image devices can therefore utilize the sharing mechanism. Assuch, a single user might actuate a single sharing mechanism to cause asharing of images between the printer and the digital camera (or otherexamples of commonly-controlled peripheral or capturing shared imagedevices). In certain embodiments, peripheral shared image device(s) canbe networked with one or more capturing shared image devices that areowned by multiple users at a given sharing session. Consider that insome embodiments but not others, both the peripheral shared image device(e.g., printer) and at least some of the capturing shared image devices(e.g., digital cameras) rely upon the same sharing mechanism for thesharing session. In certain embodiments but not others, a peripheralshared image device that can be configurable as a shared image-server,that could function to transfer stored image data back to anothercomputer, could include a sharing mechanism with the other computer.

A variety of peripheral shared image device(s) 101 can store or displayshared images that are produced by the capturing shared image device. Incertain embodiments, a peripheral device such as a projector ortelevision shared image device 101 can be associated with a digitalcamera or camcorder capturing shared image device to provide a slideshow or movie including the shared images provided by the latter. Inother embodiments, a digital video disk (DVD) recorder can burn a CDcontaining shared images provided by a digital camera or camcordershared image device. These different embodiments of shared image devicesthat can be configurable as capturing and/or peripheral shared imagedevices can still be considered as dissimilar in certain aspects butperhaps not in other aspects.

Examples of the Computer/Controller

FIGS. 6 and 15 show two embodiments of computer/controller 603 that canbe included in certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 toassist in providing the sharing of at least portions of shared imagesbetween multiple shared image devices. Certain sharing-related aspects,such as synchronization and/or designation of aspects as describedwithin this disclosure, can be performed by the controller 603. Forexample, each one of the two shared image devices 101 as described withrespect to FIG. 7 or 15, provides an example of either a peripheralshared image device and/or a capturing shared image device. As such, indifferent embodiments, two capturing shared image devices can beoperably coupled to each other, two peripheral shared image devices canbe operably coupled to each other; or one peripheral shared image devicecan be operably coupled to a capturing shared image device in a mannerthat allows transmitting image information at, or receiving imageinformation at each or both of the shared image devices 101.

As described within this disclosure, multiple ones of the differentembodiments of the shared image devices 101 are able to transfer imageinformation, one or more portions of images, etc. to each other via thecommunication link 104. One embodiment of the computer/controller 603includes a processor 605 such as a central processing unit (CPU), amemory 607, a circuit or circuit portion 609, and an input outputinterface (I/O) 611 that may include a bus (not shown). Differentembodiments of the computer/controller 603 can be a general-purposecomputer, a specific-purpose computer, a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, a personal display assistant (PDA), and/or any otherknown suitable type of computer or controller that can be implemented inhardware, software, electromechanical devices, and/or firmware. Certainportions of the computer/controller 603 can be physically or operablyconfigurable in each shared image device as described with respect toFIGS. 1 to 4. In one embodiment, the processor 605 as described withrespect to FIG. 7 or 15 performs the processing and arithmeticoperations for the computer/controller 603. The computer/controller 603controls the signal processing, database querying and response,computational, timing, data transfer, and other processes associatedwith the shared image device. In certain embodiments, one moresimplified version of the controller 603 that can be provided withrespect to FIG. 7 or 15, and that could be configured to provide atransfer of shared images between multiple shared image devices.

Certain embodiments of the memory 607 include random access memory (RAM)and read only memory (ROM) that together store the computer programs,operands, and other parameters that control the operation of the sharedimage device. The memory 607 can be configurable to contain the sharedimage information obtained, retained, or captured by that particularshared image device 101 (that may be configurable in differentembodiments as the peripheral shared image device of the capturingshared image device).

The bus is configurable to provide for digital information transmissionsbetween the processor 605, circuits 609, memory 607, I/O 611, and/or theimage storage device 1503. In this disclosure, the memory 607 can beconfigurable as RAM, flash memory, semiconductor-based memory, or anyother type of memory that is configurable to store data pertaining toimages. The bus also connects I/O 611 to the portions of the sharedimage devices that either receive digital information from, or transmitdigital information to other portions of the shared image network 100.

Certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 as described withrespect to FIG. 7 or 15 includes a transmitter portion (not shown) thatcan be either included as a portion of the computer/controller 603, oralternately can be provided as a separate unit (e.g.,microprocessor-based). In certain embodiments, the transmitter portioncan transmit image information between different shared image devicesover wired and/or wireless communication links.

Certain embodiments of the shared image device 101 as described withrespect to FIG. 7 or 15 includes an operation altering portion (notshown) that can be either included as a portion of thecomputer/controller 603, or alternately can be provided as a separateunit (e.g., microprocessor-based). Examples of operation alteringportions include, but are not limited to, altering a resolution,altering a contextual library, altering an aspect ratio, altering acolor intensity and/or brightness at a second shared image device (suchas a capturing shared image device) by transmitting appropriate imageinformation from a first shared image device (such as a peripheralshared image device).

The memory 607 can provide one example of a memory storage portion. Incertain embodiments, the monitored value includes, but is not limitedto: a percentage of the memory 607, a number of images that are storedin the memory 607, or for motion images a recording interval (audio orvideo recording intervals).

To provide for overflow ability for the memory 607 of certainembodiments of the shared image device 101, the image storage device1503 as described with respect to FIG. 15 can operably couple to thememory 607 to allow a controllable transmitting of memory data from theshared image device 101 to the image storage device when the monitoredvalue of data within the memory 607 (e.g., the memory storage portion)exceeds a prescribed value. The prescribed value can include, e.g., somepercentage amount or some actual amount of the value. In differentembodiments, the image storage device 1503 can be included as a portionof the shared image device 101, as external to the shared image device,or as electrically connected (such as by an electrical coupling) to theshared image device. Different embodiments of the image storage device1503 can be configurable as a mobile random access memory (RAM) device,a flash memory device, a semiconductor memory device, or any othermemory device (that may or may not be distinct from the memory 607) thatcan store images, image information, and/or any other data that can bestored within the memory 607.

In certain embodiments, a secondary communication link 1505 can beestablished between the shared image device 101 (for example, the memory607) and the image storage device 1503. The secondary communication link1505 can be structured similar to as the communication link 104, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 1-4, or alternatively can utilizenetwork-based computer connections, Internet connections, etc. toprovide data transfer between the shared image device 101 that includesthe computer/controller 603, and the image storage device 1503. Thesecondary communication link 1505 can be established prior to, during,and/or following the existence of the shared session.

In certain embodiments of the shared image device 101, the particularelements of the computer/controller 603 (e.g., the processor 605, thememory 607, the circuits 609, and/or the I/O 611) can provide amonitoring function to monitor the amount of images and/or imageinformation contained therewithin. Such a monitoring function by theshared image device can be compared to a prescribed limit, such aswhether the number of images contained in the memory 607, the amount ofdata contained within the memory 607, or some other measure relating tothe memory is approaching some value. The limits to the value can, indifferent embodiments, be controlled by the user or the manufacturer. Incertain embodiments, the memory 607 stores motion images, video images,and/or audio images relating to, e.g., a motion picture, camcorder,video, or audio embodiment of the shared image device. In certainembodiments the measure relating to the memory approaching some valuemay pertain to some recording duration, such as video recording durationor audio recording duration. Using the recoding duration, certainembodiments of motion picture shared image devices can thereby quantifyhow many shared images, or other images, have been captured.

In certain embodiments, the I/O 611 provides an interface to control thetransmissions of digital information between each of the components inthe computer/controller 603. The I/O 611 also provides an interfacebetween the components of the computer/controller 603 and differentportions of the shared image device. The circuits 609 can include suchother user interface devices as a display and/or a keyboard.

In other embodiments, the computer/controller 603 can be constructed asa specific-purpose computer such as an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or other similardevices. A distinct computer/controller 603 can be integrated intocertain embodiments of the shared image device 101, the share mechanism102, and/or the communication link 104, as described with respect toFIG. 1 or 3.

In certain embodiments, the shared image device 101 including thecomputer/controller 603 can be configured as a peripheral shared imagedevice. Such peripheral shared imaged devices can be configured toinclude sufficient image storage in the memory 607 to allow storage ofthe images for a session. Additionally, in certain embodiments theperipheral shared image device can transmit operational instructions(either computer based or manual) to instruct either a user at thecapturing shared image device how to operate the capturing shared imagedevice; or ultimately can automatically operate the capturing sharedimage device(s) according to the operating information or instructions.The operating information or instructions can include, but is notlimited to, how many images to capture, where to capture (take a picturetoward a specified direction), the subject of the desired image, zoomlevel, etc. In this manner, certain embodiments of peripheral sharedimage devices can effectively control the operation of an associatedcapturing shared image device by effective use of operating information.

Examples of Designating or Synchronizing Shared Image Devices andTechniques

FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of a shared image device such as thecapturing shared image device 101 h, similar to and with certain similarreference characters as described with respect to FIG. 6, that isoperable to receive attribute information of at least one shared imagefrom a remote shared image device such as the designating shared imagedevice 101 j. The capturing shared image device 101 h can be operable tocapture at least one shared image at least partially in response to thecapturing shared image device receiving the attribute of the at leastone shared image. In certain embodiments but not others, the capturingshared image device is operable to receive the attribute information ofat least one shared image to be captured at least partially from atleast one designating shared image device. In certain embodiments butnot others, the capturing shared image device can be operable to receivethe attribute information of at least one shared image to be captured atleast partially from at least one sharing shared image device. Incertain embodiments but not others, the capturing shared image devicecan be configurable to actuate a sharing mechanism at least in partbased on relative positioning of the capturing shared image devicerelative to at least one other shared image device. In certainembodiments but not others, the capturing shared image device can beconfigurable to actuate a sharing mechanism at least in part based onpositioning the capturing shared image device relative to a sharingregion. In certain embodiments but not others, the capturing sharedimage device can be configurable to actuate a sharing mechanism at leastin part based on positioning of a field of view of the capturing sharedimage device.

FIG. 13 illustrates one embodiment of a sharing mechanism, that includesa shared image device 101 that can be configured as the designatingshared image device 101 j, as described with respect to FIG. 6, that isoperable to at least partially forward a designation of attributeinformation that can be received by a shared image device (such as thecapturing shared image device 101 h as described with respect to FIG. 6)to capture one or more images. In certain embodiments, the sharingmechanism includes a selector mechanism, such as a laser pointer, toselect attributes of images. The laser pointer can utilize commerciallyavailable user interface selector technology to make a selection. Incertain embodiments, the sharing mechanism can include a transferringportion operable to at least partially transfer captured images from thecapturing shared image device to the designating shared image device,wherein the captured images have been captured at least partially basedupon the designation of the attribute information from the designatingshared image device. In certain embodiments, the sharing mechanism caninclude the capturing shared image device configurable to actuate asharing mechanism at least in part based on: a) relative positioning ofthe capturing shared image device relative to at least one other sharedimage device, b) positioning the capturing shared image device relativeto a sharing region, or c) positioning of a field of view of thecapturing shared image device. In certain embodiments, the sharingmechanism can include an intermediate sharing device such as the sharingshared image device 101 i, as described with respect to FIG. 6.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a shared image device 101 that isconfigured as a capturing shared image device 101 h, as described withrespect to FIG. 6, that is configurable to synchronize to a sharingsession in a manner that at least partially allows conveying at thecapturing shared image device at least some shared images with respectto at least another shared image device 101 that is configured as acapturing shared image device during a sharing session. In oneembodiment but not others, the capturing shared image device can beconfigurable to transmit the at least some shared images to the at leastanother capturing shared image device. In certain embodiments but notothers, the capturing shared image device can be configurable to receivethe at least some shared images from the at least another capturingshared image device. In certain embodiments but not others, thecapturing shared image device can be configurable to synchronize to thesharing session following the sharing session. In certain embodimentsbut not others, the capturing shared image device can be configurable tosynchronize to the sharing session during the sharing session. Incertain embodiments but not others, the capturing shared image deviceconfigurable to actuate a sharing mechanism at least in part based onrelative positioning of the capturing shared image device relative to atleast one other shared image device. In certain embodiments but notothers, the capturing shared image device can be configurable to actuatea sharing mechanism at least in part based on positioning the capturingshared image device relative to a sharing region. In certain embodimentsbut not others, the capturing shared image device configurable toactuate a sharing mechanism at least in part based on positioning of afield of view of the capturing shared image device. In certainembodiments but not others, the capturing shared image device can beconfigurable to establish a sharing region.

FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a sharing mechanism that isoperable to at least partially synchronize a transfer of at least someshared images between a first capturing shared image device and a secondcapturing shared image device during a sharing session. The sharingmechanism can include in certain embodiments the first capturing sharedimage device that can be operable to participate in the sharing sessionat least partially by transmitting the at least some shared imagesrelating to the sharing session from the first capturing shared imagedevice to the second capturing shared image device. The sharingmechanism can include in certain embodiments the first capturing sharedimage device that can be operable to synchronize to the second capturingshared image device during the sharing session. The sharing mechanismcan include in certain embodiments the first capturing shared imagedevice that can be operable to synchronize to the second capturingshared image device following the sharing session. The sharing mechanismcan include in certain embodiments the first capturing shared imagedevice that can be operable to actuate the sharing mechanism at least inpart based on a relative position of the first capturing shared imagedevice relative to at least one other shared image device. The sharingmechanism can include in certain embodiments the first capturing sharedimage device that can be operable to actuate the sharing mechanism atleast in part based on a relative position of the first capturing sharedimage device relative to a sharing region. The sharing mechanism caninclude in certain embodiments the first capturing shared image devicethat can be operable to actuate the sharing mechanism at least in partbased on a relative position of a field of view of the first capturingshared image device.

Within the disclosure, flowcharts of the type described in thisdisclosure apply to method steps as performed by a computer orcontroller. The flowcharts can also apply to apparatus devices, such asa shared image device 101 that includes, e.g., a general-purposecomputer or specialized-purpose computer whose structure along with thesoftware, firmware, electro-mechanical devices, and/or hardware, canperform the process or technique described in the flowchart.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of the resolution conversiontechnique 1700 that is described with respect to FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, 17 c,17 d, 17 e, and 17 f, and which includes operations 1702; in addition tooptional operations 1744, 1746, 1747, 1748, 1750, 1752, 1754, 1756,1760, 1762, 1764, 1766, 1768, 1770, 1772, 1774, 1776, and 1780,Operation 1702 can include, but is not limited to, optional operations1704, 1706, 1708, 1710, 1712, 1714, 1716, 1718, 1720, 1722, 1724, 1726,1728, 1729, 1730, 1732, 1740, 1742 and 1743. The operation 1756 caninclude, but is not limited to, optional operation 1758. Optionaloperation 1776 can include, but is not limited to, optional operation1778. The high-level flowcharts of FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, 17 c, 17 d, 17 e,and 17 f should be considered in combination with the shared imagedevice 101, as described with respect to FIG. 6 or 20. Operation 1702can include, but is not limited to, designating at least partially at adesignating shared image device an attribute, and using the attribute byan at least one capturing shared image device for capturing at least oneshared image. For example, as described with respect to FIG. 6 or 20,designating an attribute at a designating shared image device 101 j thatcan be used by the capturing shared image device 101 h in capturing theimage. The designating at least partially at a designating shared imagedevice an attribute; and using the attribute by an at least onecapturing shared image device for capturing at least one shared image ofoperation 1702 can include operation 1704, that can include but is notlimited to, designating at least partially at the designating sharedimage device a format attribute, using the format attribute by the atleast one capturing shared image device for capturing the at least oneshared image. For example, the designating shared image device. 101 jdesignates a format attribute of the image to be captured by thecapturing shared image device 101 h. The designating at least partiallyat a designating shared image device an attribute; and using theattribute by an at least one capturing shared image device for capturingat least one shared image of operation 1702 can include operation 1706,that can include but is not limited to, designating at least partiallyat the designating shared image device a pixel depth attribute, usingthe pixel depth attribute by the at least one capturing shared imagedevice for capturing the at least one shared image. For example, thedesignating shared image device 101 j designates a pixel-depth attributeof the image to be captured by the capturing shared image device 101 h.The designating at least partially at a designating shared image devicean attribute; and using the attribute by an at least one capturingshared image device for capturing at least one shared image of operation1702 can include operation 1708, that can include but is not limited to,designating at least partially at the designating shared image device asubject attribute, using the subject attribute by the at least onecapturing shared image device for capturing the at least one sharedimage. For example, the designating shared image device 101 j designatesa subject attribute of the image to be captured by the capturing sharedimage device 101 h. The designating at least partially at a designatingshared image device an attribute; and using the attribute by an at leastone capturing shared image device for capturing at least one sharedimage of operation 1702 can include operation 1710, that can include butis not limited to, designating at least partially at the designatingshared image device a captured region attribute, using the capturedregion attribute by the at least one capturing shared image device forcapturing the at least one shared image. For example, the designatingshared image device 101 j designates a captured region attribute of theimage to be captured by the capturing shared image device 101 h. Thedesignating at least partially at a designating shared image device anattribute; and using the attribute by an at least one capturing sharedimage device for capturing at least one shared image of operation 1702can include operation 1712, that can include but is not limited to,designating at least partially at the designating shared image device anevent attribute, using the event attribute by the at least one capturingshared image device for capturing the at least one shared image. Forexample, the designating shared image device 101 j designates an eventattribute of the image to be captured by the capturing shared imagedevice 101 h. The designating at least partially at a designating sharedimage device an attribute; and using the attribute by an at least onecapturing shared image device for capturing at least one shared image ofoperation 1702 can include operation 1714, that can include but is notlimited to, designating at least partially at the designating sharedimage device a cost attribute, using the cost attribute by the at leastone capturing shared image device for capturing the at least one sharedimage. For example, the designating shared image device 101 j designatesa cost attribute of the image to be captured by the capturing sharedimage device 101 h. The designating at least partially at a designatingshared image device an attribute; and using the attribute by an at leastone capturing shared image device for capturing at least one sharedimage of operation 1702 can include operation 1716, that can include butis not limited to, designating at least partially at the designatingshared image device a rights attribute, using the rights attribute bythe at least one capturing shared image device for capturing the atleast one shared image. For example, the designating shared image device101 j designates a rights attribute of the image to be captured by thecapturing shared image device 101 h, such as to describe rights and/orpermissions of particulars users and/or shared image devices. Thedesignating at least partially at a designating shared image device anattribute; and using the attribute by an at least one capturing sharedimage device for capturing at least one shared image of operation 1702can include operation 1718, that can include but is not limited to,designating at least partially at the designating shared image device acreator attribute, using the creator attribute by the at least onecapturing shared image device for capturing the at least one sharedimage. For example, the designating shared image device 101 j designatesa creator attribute of the image to be captured by the capturing sharedimage device 101 h. The designating at least partially at a designatingshared image device an attribute; and using the attribute by an at leastone capturing shared image device for capturing at least one sharedimage of operation 1702 can include operation 1720, that can include butis not limited to, designating at least partially at the designatingshared image device an owner attribute, using the owner attribute by theat least one capturing shared image device for capturing the at leastone shared image. For example, the designating shared image device 101 jdesignates an owner attribute of the image to be captured by thecapturing shared image device 101 h. The designating at least partiallyat a designating shared image device an attribute; and using theattribute by an at least one capturing shared image device for capturingat least one shared image of operation 1702 can include operation 1722,that can include but is not limited to, designating at least partiallyat the designating shared image device a size attribute, using the sizeattribute by the at least one capturing shared image device forcapturing the at least one shared image. For example, the designatingshared image device 101 j designates a size attribute of the image to becaptured by the capturing shared image device 101 h. The designating atleast partially at a designating shared image device an attribute; andusing the attribute by an at least one capturing shared image device forcapturing at least one shared image of operation 1702 can includeoperation 1724, that can include but is not limited to, designating atleast partially at the designating shared image device a featureattribute, using the feature attribute by the at least one capturingshared image device for capturing the at least one shared image. Forexample, the designating shared image device 101 j designates a featureattribute of the image to be captured by the capturing shared imagedevice 101 h. The designating at least partially at a designating sharedimage device an attribute; and using the attribute by an at least onecapturing shared image device for capturing at least one shared image ofoperation 1702 can include operation 1726, that can include but is notlimited to, designating at least partially at the designating sharedimage device a use attribute, using the use attribute by the at leastone capturing shared image device for capturing the at least one sharedimage. For example, the designating shared image device 101 j designatesa use attribute (e.g. buddy icon vs. desktop background that allowsshared image devices to share images as desired, an image might beusable in a game or serve as a ticket, etc.) of one or more images to becaptured by the capturing shared image device 101 h. The designating atleast partially at a designating shared image device an attribute; andusing the attribute by an at least one capturing shared image device forcapturing at least one shared image of operation 1702 can includeoperation 1728, that can include but is not limited to, designating atleast partially at the designating shared image device an attachmentattribute, using the attachment attribute by the at least one capturingshared image device for capturing the at least one shared image. Forexample, the designating shared image device 101 j designates anattachment attribute of the image to be captured by the capturing sharedimage device 101 h. One aspect of the attachment attribute can include apromotion attribute, such as attaching a coupon. The designating atleast partially at a designating shared image device an attribute; andusing the attribute by an at least one capturing shared image device forcapturing at least one shared image of operation 1702 can includeoperation 1729, that can include but is not limited to, designating atleast partially at the designating shared image device a promotionattribute, using the promotion attribute by the at least one capturingshared image device for capturing the at least one shared image. Forexample, the designating shared image device 101 j designates apromotion attribute of the image to be captured by the capturing sharedimage device 101 h. One aspect of the attachment attribute can include apromotion attribute, such as attaching a coupon. The designating atleast partially at a designating shared image device an attribute; andusing the attribute by an at least one capturing shared image device forcapturing at least one shared image of operation 1702 can includeoperation 1730, that can include but is not limited to, designating atleast partially at the designating shared image device an audioattribute, using the audio attribute by the at least one capturingshared image device for capturing the at least one shared image. Forexample, the designating shared image device 101 j designates an audioattribute of the image to be captured by the capturing shared imagedevice 101 h. The designating at least partially at a designating sharedimage device an attribute; and using the attribute by an at least onecapturing shared image device for capturing at least one shared image ofoperation 1702 can include operation 1740, that can include but is notlimited to, visibly pointing using a visible pointing device toreference at least a portion of a user interface within the at least onecapturing shared image device for the designating the attribute suchthat a user at the capturing shared image device can interfacetherewith. For example, visibly pointing using a visible pointing devicethat references a portion of the capturing shared image device 101 h, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 6 or 20. The designating at leastpartially at a designating shared image device an attribute; and usingthe attribute by an at least one capturing shared image device forcapturing at least one shared image of operation 1702 can includeoperation 1742, that can include but is not limited to, visibly pointingusing a visible pointing device to reference at least a portion of auser interface within the designating shared image device for thedesignating the attribute. For example, visibly pointing using a visiblepointing device that references a portion of the designating sharedimage device 101 j, as described with respect to FIG. 6 or 20 such thata user at the designating shared image device can interface therewith.The designating at least partially at a designating shared image devicean attribute; and using the attribute by an at least one capturingshared image device for capturing at least one shared image of operation1702 can include operation 1743, that can include but is not limited to,designating the attribute of the at least one shared image at leastpartially with at least another capturing shared image device that canbe utilized to capture an image with the at least one capturing sharedimage device. For example, designating the attribute of at least oneshared image at least partially with the designating shared image devicethat can be utilized to capture the image with the at least onecapturing shared image device that is configured as another designatingshared image device, as described with respect to FIG. 6 or 20.Operation 1744 can include, but is not limited to, receiving the atleast one shared image at the designating shared image device that hasbeen captured by the at least one capturing shared image device. Forexample, receiving at least one shared image at the designating sharedimage device 101 j that has been captured by the capturing shared imagedevice 101 h. Operation 1746 can include, but is not limited to,transmitting a shared image from the designating shared image device.For example, transmitting a shared image from the designating sharedimage device 101 j to the capturing shared image device 101 h. Operation1747 can include, but is not limited to, transmitting a shared imagefrom the at least one capturing shared image device. For example,transmitting at least one image from the capturing shared image device101 h. Operation 1748 can include, but is not limited to, displaying atthe designating shared image device the at least one shared image thathas been captured by the at least one capturing shared image device. Forexample, displaying an image captured at the capturing shared imagedevice 101 h at the designating shared image device 101 j. Operation1750 can include, but is not limited to, selecting from the designatingshared image device the at least one shared image to transmit from theat least one capturing shared image device. For example, selecting atleast one shared image to transmit to the designating shared imagedevice 101 j, e.g., along the communication link 104 (e.g., theselecting can be transmitted, in different embodiments, to the capturingshared image device, to a service for processing, to an archive, or toanother device). Operation 1752 can include, but is not limited to,capturing the at least one shared image at least partially using the atleast one capturing shared image device. For example, capturing imagesusing the capturing shared image device 101 h. Operation 1754 caninclude, but is not limited to, capturing images with the designatingshared image device. For example, capturing images using the designatingshared image device 101 j. Operation 1756 can include, but is notlimited to, associating the at least one capturing shared image devicewith a sharing shared image device, wherein the sharing shared imagedevice is configured to share at least some images with the designatingshared image device that have been captured by the at least onecapturing shared image device. For example, associating the capturingshared image device 101 h with a sharing shared image device 101 i, suchthat images can be shared between the sharing shared image device 101 iand the designating shared image device 101 j utilizing a communicationlink 104. The associating the at least one capturing shared image devicewith a sharing shared image device, wherein the sharing shared imagedevice is configured to share at least some images with the designatingshared image device that have been captured by the at least onecapturing shared image device of operation 1756 can include operation1758, that can include but is not limited to, capturing images at leastpartially with the sharing shared image device. For example, capturingimages using the sharing shared image device 101 i. Operation 1760 caninclude, but is not limited to, synchronizing the designating sharedimage device to a sharing session following the sharing session. Forexample, synchronizing at a time following the sharing session thedesignating shared image device 101 j. Operation 1762 can include, butis not limited to, synchronizing the designating shared image device toa sharing session during the sharing session. For example, synchronizingat a time during the sharing session the designating shared image device101 j. Operation 1764 can include, but is not limited to, defining abeginning or an ending of a sharing session at least partially based ona timing of an event. For example, timing a beginning or an ending ofthe sharing session based at least partially upon a timing of an event,such as a child's birthday party, a wedding, etc. Operation 1766 caninclude, but is not limited to, defining a beginning or an ending of asharing session at least partially when a subscriber's assigned timeruns out. For example, deleting the beginning or ending of a sharingsession based on a subscriber's assigned time (e.g., time paid for).Operation 1768 can include, but is not limited to, actuating a sharingmechanism that includes the designating shared image device at least inpart based on relative positioning of the designating shared imagedevice relative to at least one other shared image device. For example,actuating a sharing mechanism including the designating shared imagedevice 101 j as described with respect to FIG. 6 or 20 based, at leastin part, on relative positioning of the designating shared image devicewith respect to, for example, the capturing shared image device 101 h.Operation 1770 can include, but is not limited to, actuating a sharingmechanism that includes the designating shared image device at least inpart based on positioning the designating shared image device relativeto a sharing region. For example, actuating a sharing mechanismincluding the designating shared image device 101 j as described withrespect to FIG. 6 or 20 based, at least in part, on relative positioningof the designating shared image device with respect to, for example, asharing region 103, such as described with respect to FIG. 1. Operation1772 can include, but is not limited to, actuating a sharing mechanismthat includes the designating shared image device at least in part basedon positioning of a field of view of the at least one capturing sharedimage device. For example, actuating a sharing mechanism including thedesignating shared image device 101 j as described with respect to FIG.6 or 20 based, at least in part, on relative positioning within a fieldof view of the capturing shared image device 101 h. Operation 1774 caninclude, but is not limited to, establishing a membership of thedesignating shared image device in a sharing session. For example,establishing a membership of the designating shared image device 101 jin the sharing session. Operation 1776 can include, but is not limitedto, establishing a sharing region for at least a two-dimensional regionat least partially utilizing the designating shared image device. Forexample, establishing a sharing region that covers, for example a two orthree dimensional area or volume, at least partially utilizing thedesignating shared image device 101 j. The establishing a sharing regionfor at least a two-dimensional region at least partially utilizing thedesignating shared image device of operation 1776 can include operation1778, that can include but is not limited to, establishing a timeduration for the sharing region. For example, establishing a timeduration for the sharing region 103, as described with respect toFIG. 1. Operation 1780 can include, but is not limited to, overlapping afirst field of view from the designating shared image device with asecond field of view from the at least one capturing shared imagedevice. For example, overlapping the field of view from a designatingshared image device and a capturing shared image device. The orderand/or arrangement of the operations within FIGS. 17 a, 17 b, 17 c, 17d, 17 e, and 17 f are intended to be nonlimiting in scope.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of the resolution conversiontechnique 1800 that is described with respect to FIGS. 18 a and 18 b,and which can include, but is not limited to, operation 1802 as well asoptional operations 1820, 1822, 1824, 1826, 1828, 1830, 1840, 1846,1848, and 1850. Operation 1802 can include but is not limited tooptional operations 1804, 1806, 1808, and 1810. Optional operation 1840can include, but is not limited to, optional operations 1842 and/or1844. Examples for FIGS. 18 a and 18 b are 4 provided with respect toFIG. 14, which contain similar components and reference characters asFIG. 5 as described above. One embodiment of operation 1802 can include,but is not limited to, synchronizing a capturing shared image device toa sharing session in a manner that at least partially allows conveyingbetween the capturing shared image device with at least another sharedimage device at least some shared images captured during the sharingsession, wherein the synchronizing the capturing shared image device canallow the capturing shared image device to obtain at least some imagescaptured by the at least another shared image device even at times ofthe sharing session when the capturing shared image device is notparticipating in the sharing session. For example synchronizing acapturing shared image device 101 f as described with respect to FIG.21, in a manner that allows conveying between the capturing shared imagedevice and the synchronizing shared image device 101 e. One embodimentof the synchronizing a capturing shared image device to a sharingsession in a manner that at least partially allows conveying between thecapturing shared image device with at least another shared image deviceat least some shared images captured during the sharing session ofoperation 1802 can include operation 1804, that can include but is notlimited to, transmitting at least some images from the capturing sharedimage device. For example, transmitting at least some images from thecapturing shared image device 101 f to either the synchronizing sharedimage device 101 e and/or some other device. One embodiment of thesynchronizing a capturing shared image device to a sharing session in amanner that at least partially allows conveying between the capturingshared image device with at least another shared image device at leastsome shared images captured during the sharing session of operation 1802can include operation 1806, that can include but is not limited to,receiving at least some images at the capturing shared image device. Forexample, receiving at least some images at the capturing shared imagedevice 101 f from the synchronizing shared image device 101 e and/orsome other device. One embodiment of the synchronizing a capturingshared image device to a sharing session in a manner that at leastpartially allows conveying between the capturing shared image devicewith at least another shared image device at least some shared imagescaptured during the sharing session of operation 1802 can includeoperation 1808, that can include but is not limited to, synchronizing tothe capturing shared image device during the sharing session. Forexample, synchronizing to the capturing shared image device 101 f duringthe sharing session. One embodiment of the synchronizing a capturingshared image device to a sharing session in a manner that at leastpartially allows conveying between the capturing shared image devicewith at least another shared image device at least some shared imagescaptured during the sharing session of operation 1802 can includeoperation 1810, that can include but is not limited to, synchronizing tothe capturing shared image device following the sharing session. Forexample, synchronizing to the capturing shared image device 101 ffollowing the sharing session. One embodiment of operation 1820 caninclude, but is not limited to, capturing images at the capturing sharedimage device. For example, capturing images at the capturing sharedimage device 101 f. One embodiment of operation 1822 can include, but isnot limited to, defining a beginning or an ending of a sharing session.For example, defining a particular time of a beginning, or ending, ofthe sharing session. One embodiment of operation 1824 can include, butis not limited to, actuating a sharing mechanism at least in part basedon relative positioning of the capturing shared image device relative toat least one other shared image device. For example, actuating a sharingmechanism 102, as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4, at least inpart based on positioning of the capturing shared image device 101 fwith respect to the synchronizing shared image device 101 e. Oneembodiment of operation 1826 can include, but is not limited to,actuating a sharing mechanism at least in part based on positioning thecapturing shared image device relative to a sharing region. For example,actuating a sharing mechanism 102, as described with respect to FIGS. 1to 4, at least in part based on positioning the capturing shared imagedevice 101 f of FIG. 21, relative to a sharing region 103. Oneembodiment of operation 1828 can include, but is not limited to,actuating a sharing mechanism at least in part based on positioning of afield of view of the capturing shared image device. For example,actuating a sharing mechanism at least part based on positioning of afield of view of the capturing shared image device 101 f. One embodimentof operation 1830 can include, but is not limited to, establishing amembership of the capturing shared image device in a sharing region. Forexample, the capturing shared image device 101 f establishes amembership in a sharing region 103. One embodiment of operation 1840 caninclude, but is not limited to, establishing a sharing region for atwo-dimensional region at least partially using the capturing sharedimage device. For example, establishing a sharing region 103 defined byat least by a two dimensional region. One embodiment of the establishinga sharing region for a two-dimensional region at least partially usingthe capturing shared image device of operation 1840 can includeoperation 1842, that can include but is not limited to, setting a timeduration for the sharing region. For example, setting a time durationfor the sharing region 103. One embodiment of the establishing a sharingregion for a two-dimensional region at least partially using thecapturing shared image device of operation 1840 can include operation1844, that can include but is not limited to, maintaining the sharingregion for as long as the capturing shared image device remainsproximate to the sharing region. For example, maintaining the sharingregion for as long as the capturing shared image device 101 f remainsproximate to sharing region 103. One embodiment of operation 1846 caninclude, but is not limited to, establishing a sharing region for athree-dimensional region at least partially using the capturing sharedimage device. For example, establishing a three-dimensional sharingregion 103 including the capturing shared image device 101 f. Oneembodiment of operation 1848 can include, but is not limited to,establishing a sharing region for one or more regions in a structure atleast partially using the capturing shared image device. For example,establishing a sharing region for one or more regions such as floorsand/or levels in a structure, such as a building or a house. Oneembodiment of operation 1850 can include, but is not limited to,overlapping a first field of view from the capturing shared image devicewith a second field of view from the at least one other shared imagedevice. For example, overlapping a field of view from the capturingshared image device 101 f with another shared image device. The order ofthe operations, methods, mechanisms, etc. as described with respect toFIGS. 18 a and/or 18 b are intended to be illustrative in nature, andnot limited in scope.

One embodiment of a high-level flowchart of an attribute designatingtechnique 1900, which is described with respect to FIG. 19, can include,but is not limited to, operation 1902 as well as optional operation1904. One embodiment of operation 1902 can include, but is not limitedto, at least partially designating an attribute at a shared image devicethat can effect capturing during a sharing session at a capturing sharedimage device, wherein the capturing at the capturing shared image deviceat least partially satisfies the attribute. For example, at leastpartially designating at a first capturing shared image device, during asharing session as described with respect to this disclosure. Oneembodiment of the operation 1904 can include, but is not limited to,actuating a sharing mechanism at least in part based on positioning theshared image device relative to a sharing region. For example actuatinga sharing mechanism based, at least in part, on positioning of twocapturing shared image devices with respect to each other. Oneembodiment of the operation 1906 can include, but is not limited to, atleast partially designating the attribute at a capturing shared imagedevice. For example, at least partially designating the attribute at thecapturing shared image device.

Examples of Device Operational Capacity

The different embodiments of the shared image devices 101, operating asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4 that can be configurable aseither capturing shared image devices and/or peripheral shared imagedevices, could reasonably be expected to either capture, photograph,project, display, obtain, retain, process, download, and/or perform avariety of other operations with respect to a number of shared images.In certain embodiments, a relatively large memory storage area can beprovided to, and utilized by, each shared image device to deal with thelarge amounts of data associated with images, and the associatedprocessing.

This section includes a description of certain embodiments of indicatorsthat allow the shared image device to operate within their estimatedmemory capacity, battery capacity, image capacity, processor capacity,and/or a combination thereof. When the particular capacity for aparticular shared image device is reached, the particular shared imagedevice typically does not operate as intended or designed. Differentembodiments of the device capacity include, but are not limited to,memory storage capacity, processor capacity, and/or battery lifecapacity. One example of a device capacity indicator is described inthis disclosure relative to FIG. 26, with respect to a status indicator1504.

In many embodiments, the users of each shared image device can beprovided with the option of obtaining or retaining particular sharedimages obtained from a particular shared image device, associated with aparticular user, or relating to a particular subject. In one embodiment,such filtering techniques can filter based upon the metadata that isassociated with each shared image.

In certain embodiments, the shared image device 101 can include a recordthat indicates the shared image device that actually captured the sharedimages. The record can also include the identities of other shared imagedevices with which the user has agreed, by joining the sharing session,to be willing to share images. The user of the shared image device withsuch a record can select those other shared image devices with whichthey wish to access certain, or at least some of their, shared imagesfor the particular sharing session. In one embodiment, this can beconsidered as a back-end synchronization to provide sharing of sharedimages, and the synchronized data can be returned to the capturingshared image device.

This can be because there is an association between the different sharedimage devices (e.g., a user's camera and the user's computer orprinter). In one embodiment, there can be a sharing session identifierthat is available to the members of the sharing session by which theshared images, portions thereof, associated information, metadata, etc.that in certain instances allows transferring the shared images throughthe network or the Internet.

The synchronization for a session of multiple shared image devices canallow a member shared image device that has left a session to return tothe session. In addition, a member that has entered a session later thanother members can receive the prior images relating to the session bysynchronizing with other members of the session that have the priorshared images. In certain embodiments, it is envisioned that differentmembers of the same session can have different sessions, so to provide acomplete synchronization for a member joining (or rejoining) an existingsession, the joining shared image device may obtain a number of imagesfrom multiple shared image device sources. In the master-satelliteembodiments as described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 3, it may bepossible for a member shared image device joining the session tosynchronize therewith to obtain the images (or portions thereof) fromthat master shared image device which contains all images pertaining tothat session.

Synchronization may be more complex in certain embodiments than certainshared image devices providing the images to other shared image devices.For example, certain shared image devices may have limited resourcescompared with other shared image devices due to different memorydimensions, different battery lives, different imaging resolutions, etc.As such, to transmit image data between different shared image devices,it may be important that the sending shared image device configure theimage data in a format as desired by the receiving shared image device.For example, the shared images could be selected to be thumbnail images,full images, portion of images, metadata relating to images, etc.

In many embodiments of shared image devices, a mechanism can be providedsuch that a receiving shared image device that has obtained one versionof a shared image can obtain another. For example, if a receiving sharedimage device that has already received a thumbnail shared image from atransmitting shared image device, and the receiving shared image devicethereupon provides a request to obtain a full-resolution image versionor a reduced-resolution image version of certain shared images, then thetransmitting shared image device could provide such full-resolutionimages. In certain embodiments, such synchronization (to provide certainversions of many images, or alternate versions of certain images) couldbe allowed even after the session is complete such as by using such atransfer mechanism such as email, or even a reestablished communicationlink.

In certain embodiments, a memory capacity warning such as the statusindicator 1504 exists on capturing shared image devices such as a cameraor camcorder. This memory capacity warning can function in a similarmanner to a battery indicator, to indicate an amount of time remainingconsidering past-flows for the particular sharing session. As such, ifthe past image storage has captured a prescribed percentage of thememory storage, the indicator will indicate the number of images usedcompared to those remaining, the percentage of image storage space used,or the amount of time remaining. The users of the shared image devicescan use such indicators based on past-flows to judiciously apply furtherimage capturing, obtaining, retaining, or other activities.

Certain ones of the device capacities may be related. For example, onecapturing shared image device may be configurable to only be able tostore a certain number of shared full-sized images. The status indicator1504 therefore may indicate the number of remaining full-sized images,reduced-resolution images, as well as the number of thumbnail images ormetadata (as desired by the user of the shared shared image device, oras designed by the designer of the shared shared image device). Toobtain or retain more full-sized images or even reduced-resolutionimages may require a considerable amount of battery life that representsanother embodiment of device capacity. As such, a particular userconsidering obtaining or retaining more shared images may dependpartially on the battery life state as well as the amount of energynecessary to obtain the current state of stored full-sized images,thumbnail images, or metadata.

In one embodiment, the data associated with the captured shared imagescan be initially stored in an image storage location within the sharedimage device. The percentage of data (or number of images) that isstored in the image storage location can be monitored, and when thepercentage of data (or number of images) exceeds a predetermined amount,some data that is to be stored and/or data that has been stored can beobtained or retained to a remote storage location.

In one embodiment, the remote storage location can be remotely locatedfrom the device image storage location such that the image, or portionsthereof, can be obtained or retained over a wireless communication linkand/or other link such as over the Internet or another shared imagenetwork or network. In another embodiment, the remote storage locationcan include, for example, an image storage device that is operablycoupled, such as by a short connection link, to the shared image device.The physical memory dimensions of the image storage location, and aswell as the remote storage location, can be selected based on thevolumes and type of images, portions of images, or other imageinformation that is likely to be obtained with a particular shared imagedevice for a particular sharing session. As such, this allows thesharing by shared image devices 101 to be accomplished in asubstantially real-time basis.

A data storage capacity situation can occur when a user overuses thestorage capability of the shared image device, such as by capturing toomany images using a digital camera or camcorder. This may be connectedto the shared-percentage concept described presenting, wherein if acertain percentage of the image capacity in a camera has been captured,either the images relating to that sharing session, or the images from aparticular user, can be rejected (or selectively considered by using,e.g., a browsing mechanism).

Certain embodiments of the sharing mechanism can also operate as asubscription mechanism. For example, if a user of a first shared imagedevice captures an image, it may be sent to the other shared imagedevices that are participating in the sharing session. Such asubscription to a sharing session may be equated with subscribing withanother service. Each subscribing shared image device may thereuponelect to join a particular session. In certain embodiments of a session,each user of a shared image device can select which images are to beobtained or retained, and can reject certain images. There are a varietyof embodiments that can be provided between sessions and subscriptionsthereto.

In certain embodiments, if a user of a first shared image device agreesto publish a particular image for a number of other shared image devicesincluding, in particular, a second shared image device, then the user atthe second shared image device can, in certain embodiments but notothers, agree to accept the pictures. It is also possible to envisionrelatively simple or complex cases. For example, shared image devicesconfigurable as digital cameras can have the capability of browsingthrough their shared images. Such a browser could be applied to incomingsubscribed to images. Consider an instance that provides for “stopsubscribing” to any particular user, from any particular sharingsession, and/or the like. As such, the images can be either permanentlyblocked, temporarily blocked, allowed access to add further time,selectively cultured, or a wide variety of other permutations. At a liveevent, certain users may for example be more concerned with capturingthe images than managing them. Following an event, certain users may bemore concerned with managing the images.

Examples of Sharing Mechanisms

To provide improved consumer electronics, it may be desirable to providea simplified sharing mechanism to accomplish the desired task for theshared image device 101. The image-based products produced by suchlarge-scale electronics/computer manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard,IBM, Xerox, Sony, and a variety of other companies (all registeredtrademarks of their respective companies) determine thoseconsumer-electronic devices that could have sharing capacity. Toappreciate the large variety of shared image devices 101 that couldbenefit from sharing capability and thereby become either a capturing orperipheral shared image device of, one can walk-through a largeconsumer-electronics store, or alternatively consider the variety ofconsumer device patents in the patents are pending applications beforethe USPTO.

Certain shared image devices 101 might have a prescribed design behaviorwhen associated with a group of shared image devices. Consider that eachshared image device has a traditional function such as photography,printing, computing, etc. It is also possible that some shared imagedevices can perform a function that differs from their traditionalfunction for a particular sharing session.

Theoretically, the share mechanism can be configurable to operaterelatively simply to cause sharing between multiple shared imagedevices; similar to the ease that has become generally accepted by,e.g., depressing a shutter button that triggers a camera to capture animage. Additional complexity may be provided, as desired, in certainembodiments of shared mechanisms to provide additional functionalitysuch as to select those shared image devices that may join a particularsharing session. One embodiment of such additional complexity to selectmember shared image devices may relate to establishing a “buddy list”between multiple shared image devices, as described later in thisdisclosure. Certain embodiments of shared image devices, but not others,are configured as a packaged item that allows sharing functionality toother shared image devices in the package. Such member selection may beafforded to peripheral shared image devices such as device printers, DVDburners, etc.

In certain embodiments, shared image devices select certain sharedimages that may have been captured by at least one other shared imagedevice, and can obtain other versions of the selected shared images. Inone embodiment, it may be desired to provide a near-real-timedata-transfer between certain shared image devices 101 (but perhaps notothers) that are participating in certain sharing sessions. In otherembodiments, the rate of data transfer may not be critical based on theparticular application, and the rate of data transfer can be reduced.The particular share mechanism should be adaptable to the uses, designs,operations, and other considerations of the shared image devices.

Examples of Shared Image Devices Having Password Proximity

It has been described above how to integrate a number of shared imagedevices 101 into the shared image network 100 based upon the proximityof the shared image devices 101 (either geographic or based on thecommunication link 104), and also based on the actuations of, and theoperations of, the respective shared mechanisms. In the geographicproximity-based embodiments, the shared image devices can be locatedrelatively closely to each other depending upon the particulartechnology utilized.

In other embodiments, shared image devices can be operably connected toeach other (e.g., operably coupled) to allow authentication foroperation such as by a password such as a spoken word or phrase, acaptured picture, etc. Certain embodiments can use password-proximity incombination with, or in addition to, geographic proximity. The differenttypes of proximity are therefore not necessarily mutually exclusive. Assuch, an authorizing password, a pass image, or a variety of similarpass mechanisms can replace the above-described physical proximityrequirements.

This portion of the disclosure thereby describes how a number of sharedimage devices 101 can join the sharing session based on passwords or asimilar mechanism, instead of based upon the physical proximity. Certainembodiments of the shared image network 100 can create group passwordsto protect against use of shared image devices by non-participants. Theshared image devices 101 within that particular sharing session can beconfigurable to respond or operate pursuant to the password, pass image,etc. using suitable image recognition, speech recognition, patternrecognition, or other recognition programs. Consider, for example, oneof the participants at a birthday party or other event creates atemporary community password for the session group.

Participants can enter the appropriate password, and thereby actuate theshared image device 101 using the sharing mechanism. In one embodiment,only those shared image devices 101 with the correct password may beprovided access to a community of shared images for that sharingsession.

A variety of password mechanisms thereby can provide passwordfunctionality to shared image devices 101. Password mechanisms representone relatively easy technique to provide password functionality. In oneembodiment, the users of shared image devices 101 can followinstructions to type in a specific password, pass phrase, something theuser says, something the user types, or some picture that can bepossessed by the users in the sharing session (e.g., handed out at thedoor for a sharing event). Such password, etc. that passes theappropriate recognition program can thereupon be used forauthentication, etc.

One embodiment of a recognizable password for a recognition programincludes a photographic-password. For example, a user who wants to joina certain session can do so by submitting a captured image of an arm, acaptured image of a thumb, a captured image of a shoe, a captured imageof a prescribed number of fingers or some letter or number (or groupthereof), or a captured image of some other physical characteristicwhose shape or appearance would be recognizable using computer-basedimage recognition programs, etc. In another embodiment, at least some ofthe cameras are provided (e.g., by a leader of a session or a producerof a shared image device) with a similar appearing card or piece ofpaper having some shape or pattern printed on them that represents apicture that can thereupon act as a password.

In another embodiment, the printed pattern could even include, e.g., apage or portion of a newspaper, or magazine, or a portion thereof. Thepattern of text, or a photograph, or a physical shape can represent apattern that is recognizable by a hardware, firmware, or software-basedpattern recognition mechanism such as may be used in certain embodimentsof shared image devices 101. In yet another embodiment, the patternrecognition software can even be applied to remote shared image devices,such that the members of the sharing session hold up some predeterminednumber of fingers (e.g., 5, 4, etc.), or a printed number, to join thesharing session. These examples of pattern recognition, speechrecognition, etc. are illustrative in nature and not limiting in scope.In certain embodiments, the users of the shared image devices 101 caneven be remotely located as in different cities or countries whileallowing suitable operation of the shared image network 100.

The patterns discussed in this disclosure are recognizable by anoptical, audio, or video pattern recognition system or device (such as apattern or shape recognition program that runs on at least onegeneral-purpose computer or at least one specialized-purpose orspecific-purpose computer, or a networked combination thereof, asdescribed herein). It is also to be understood that many shared imagedevices, such as digital cameras or camcorders, could include voiceinput that could thereupon be compared against a speech pattern, anaudio pattern, and/or a password or pass-phrase pattern using vocalrecognition patterns. As such, a vocal or audio pattern search of aparticular individual using a vocal or audio recognition program, orusing a particular spoken password, is within the intended scope of thepresent disclosure. Additionally, a spoken password can be compared to avoice recognition program for that password.

There are a wide variety of graphic, photographic, image-based, local,or audio type passwords, and/or pass-phrases that are within theintended scope of the present disclosure. As such, those describedherein are not intended to be limiting in scope. The variety ofrecognition programs for speech, voice, image, audio, video, etc.provide an indication of the large variety of recognition programs thatare within the intended scope of the applicable pattern recognitionprograms of the present disclosure. The general operation of recognitionprograms as run on captures and/or controllers are generally well knownby those skilled in the art and will not be further detailed within thisdisclosure.

The sophistication, quality, expense, and functionality of shared imagedevices 101 included in different embodiments of the shared imagenetwork can therefore vary widely. In one embodiment, the satelliteshared image devices 101 b that are associated with the master sharedimage device 101 a can be a relatively less complex device, such ascameras or camcorders that can each hold a prescribed amount of data atany given time. As such, the satellite shared image devices 101 b canthereupon obtain or retain the data to the imaging computer-cameraassociated with that sharing session. In other embodiments, some ofshared image devices 101 in the shared image network 100 can berelatively expensive and sophisticated, such that each shared imagedevices 101 can be configurable to perform a specific function and/orspecific operability.

A certain master shared image device 101 a can alternatively beconfigurable as a satellite shared image device 101 b in a differentsharing session or time. In one embodiment, the person giving the party,moderating an event, etc. can logically configure their digital imagedevice to be the master. As such, certain digital image devices (e.g.,digital cameras or camcorders) can be configurable as the master orsatellite depending upon the particular sharing session, and who isestablishing or running the sharing session.

If a particular shared image is deleted, the deletion of the sharedimage can propagate through other shared image devices and/or users incertain embodiments. Although in certain relatively simplifiedembodiments, the deletion will not propagate through to other sharedimage devices. It may, also be desirable to apply an undo function tocertain embodiments of shared image devices to remove bad pictures(images) so that they may not be shared.

In the peer-configuration, it may be desired to provide some“remembering” function such that the shared image network 100 remembersthe contents of those particular shared images that were not sharedbefore shared image devices lost proximity. An option may be to allowthose shared images to be shared between shared image devices.

Examples of Sharing Sessions

As described in this disclosure, it may be useful in certain embodiments(while not in other embodiments) to incorporate some type of a sharingsession that extends for the duration of a session to associate, on asharing basis, those member shared image devices to the sharing session.As such, the sharing session can be the duration over which certainembodiments of shared image devices 101 may share their shareableresources, such as still pictures or motion pictures.

There can be many embodiments of types of sharing sessions, as describedwithin this disclosure. For example, in some sessions, the shared imagesthat have been captured can be shared or copied between some of theother shared image devices 101. As such, if a number of shared imagedevices each captured an image (or portions thereof) for a particularsharing session, then some of the shared image devices can be expectedto have a large number of shared images to capture, process, manage,consider, store, and/or view. In other embodiments of the sharingsessions, only a certain number of the images are shared or copied withcertain shared image devices.

One embodiment of the sharing session may involve a group of users for asession (e.g., parents for a particular child's birthday party orsporting event), each of which have a shared image device that may beconfigurable (authenticated or authorized) to gain access to the sharedimages at that event. In one embodiment, certain shared image devices101 could obtain or retain shared images (e.g., pictures) even afterthey had left, but before the event has ended. It is likely that theshared image network 100 would utilize one or more wireless links toprovide the flexibility between the shared image devices such as isprovided with certain local area networks. Alternatively, the imagescould be accessed later over e.g., wide area networks to obtain orretain large volumes of the data associated with a number of pictures.

For certain embodiments, it may be desired to allow a certain sharedimage device 101 to join a plurality of concurrent sharing sessions. Auser would then be able to determine which one of multiple sharingsessions they wished to be a member. As such, such a shared image device101 could obtain or retain information from at least certain othershared image devices from both/all of the concurrent sharing sessions.Access to the multiple sharing sessions can be covered by providingmultiple passwords or pass-phrases that each relate to the differentconcurrent sharing sessions. In certain embodiments, it is thereforepossible for certain shared image devices 101 to subscribe to multiplesharing sessions simultaneously. Logically, this sharing of one sharedimage device into multiple sharing sessions can be envisioned as, e.g.,a Venn diagram in which each shape represents one of multiplepotentially-overlapping concurrent sharing sessions. In theseembodiments, the sharing sessions that each shared image relates to canbe identified; or in certain embodiments, a particular shared imagedevice pertains to both/all of the concurrent sharing sessions.

With many embodiments of sharing sessions that are established onpeer-to-peer shared image networks similar to as described above withrespect to FIG. 2; the networks can have the capability of replicatingdata that has been lost (or not obtained) by a particular shared imagedevice 101. As such, when a particular shared image device 101 joins thesharing session, it may be able to query at least some of the devices toobtain the shared images that have been captured through the beginningof that sharing session. As such, when a member of the sharing sessionor event arrives halfway through the event, they will be able to accessthe previously captured images, etc. that pertain to the sharingsession.

Replication of lost, or never obtained, data may be successfullyperformed in many peer-to-peer shared image networks as well as othernetworks (e.g., master-satellite). Such data replication represents anadvantage of certain peer-to-peer shared image networks. Thisreplication may not apply to sharing sessions that have already bothstarted and ended, even for peer-to-peer shared image networks. As such,in many embodiments, users of shared image devices 101 that might havejoined the sharing session after the sharing session has ended may notbe able to obtain those shared images substantially directly (butperhaps can obtain the sharing session pictures from a friend or afamily member). Certain embodiments of the shared image network 100 mayinclude a concept of a synchronized master shared image device fromwhich a latecomer can obtain the shared images.

Though dissimilarities exist between different types of sharing sessionsbetween shared image devices 101, there can also be a great deal ofcommonality. For example, many embodiments of the sharing sessions canbe identified by a unique session identifier. With certain embodimentsof the sharing sessions, those who are attending should be able toaccess the shared images captured by some of the shared image devices101 associated with that sharing session (while this may not be true inother embodiments of the sharing session). Many embodiments of sharingsessions rely on a broadcast by which images (or portions thereof orinformation relating thereto) are transmitted to other members of thesession, in many instances without an addressing mechanism.

A user can get access to sharing sessions in certain embodiments afterthey have left that sharing session, such as a party. For example, thesharing session may be configurable such that the members can accessimages relating to any portion of the shared session following theshared session from one of the session members (perhaps after providinga suitable password to rejoin and/or access images from the session). Incertain embodiments, such sharing session members may be able to accessthe shared images after they leave the sharing session using a differentmechanism, such as the Internet or another embodiment of network (e.g.,or other shared image network). The particular configuration of theshared image network largely determines how current members, as well aspast members, of the sharing session may access shared images from theshared image network.

Consider that for certain embodiments, when a user actuates a sharingmechanism 102 to join a particular sharing session, that they establisha sharing session identity (ID). For certain embodiments of shared imagedevices 101, they should be able to use the sharing session ID to laterretrieve pictures even after they have left the event. For example, thepassword can be used as a host-name or sharing session ID for the event.Sharing session names can also default to easily remembered things suchas date, name of the sharing session, etc. Shared image devices can beassociated with one or more from a set of shared default keywords suchas “party”, “anniversary”, “Christmas”, “sports event”, “businessmeeting”, etc. For a number of embodiments, the information associatedwith each particular sharing session should be retrievable later from acentral computer, a server, etc.

For a particular sharing session member who shows up late to the sharingsession or meeting, it may be important that different session attendeeshave the capability of “pulling in” new members, and providing them theshared images going back to the beginning of the sharing session. Forexample, assume that there are four currently-joined shared imagedevices 101 in a session, and a new shared image device is being joinedusing the first shared image device to establish a new grouping of fiveshared image devices. Such joining techniques may, for example, rely onpoint-to-point communication, master-satellite communication,client-server communication, or other shared communication techniques.In one embodiment, for example, the user of the first shared imagedevice 101 actuates the sharing mechanism that publishes the sharedimages to allow the joining shared image device to become part of thesharing session, and thereby gain access to the images already captured,by other session shared image devices. A number of different sharingsession configurations for the sharing mechanisms can thereby beprovided depending on the application or as a design choice. Oneembodiment involves a first person actuating the sharing mechanism 102,at which point other shared image devices within range may be able toaccess those. This embodiment could be considered as simply opening upsome of the session information contained in one shared image device 101to other shared image devices.

Another embodiment can be considered as a “published with synchronizedtimestamp”, such that each user actuates the sharing mechanism at thesame time to get synchronized, and therefore is able to somewhat controlthe dispersal of the shared images. Another embodiment can be referredto as a “shared plus password.”

Examples of Ancillary Aspects for Sharing Mechanisms

Certain shared image device 101 concepts can also be applicable tobusiness meetings, telephone calls, amusement centers, sports events,etc. As such, some participants in a meeting can copy, share, and/ordistribute all, or selected shared images, or shared camcorder output,etc. relating to the meeting, event, etc. Synchronization concepts asdescribed within this disclosure even apply to those members who arrivelate, leave early, and or leave for a portion between the beginning andending of the sharing session.

Some embodiments of the sharing mechanism can also include astop-publishing aspect of the sharing mechanism. In certain sessionembodiments, a stop-sharing mechanism or temporary halt publishingmechanism performs an inverse operation to the sharing mechanism asdescribed herein. Suppose, for example, that a user in a shared imagedevice 101 wishes to capture at least one private picture, and therebytemporarily disconnects from the shared image network to keep fromsharing that image from the other members of the sharing session.

This can be the same or a different feature as a temporary-privatemechanism such as a mute-image device. In this manner, a person in theparty can temporarily disconnect their device from the shared imagenetwork 100 and/or certain shared images or portions thereof for aportion of the sharing session.

In one embodiment, a unique time-stamp can be provided to synchronize atleast some of the digital devices in the sharing session, and the timecan be measured with respect to the beginning of the sharing session.Each shared image device such as a digital camera or camcorder canthereupon utilize a universal sharing time. In one embodiment, at leastsome of the clocks for the different shared image devices 101 slave to atime corresponding to one of the devices for that sharing session. Inanother embodiment, at least certain shared image devices 101 slave to asharing session time for that session. The selected sharing session timecan rely on a distinct time-keeping mechanism.

In another embodiment, a “buddy list” can be integrated into a number ofshared image devices that form a subset from within a larger group ofshared image devices (e.g., the smaller group is identified to share orcopy their shared images using the buddy list). Those shared imagedevices may elect to share or copy their images with other shared imagedevices sharing the same buddy list, but not share their “buddy-list”images with the group of shared image devices at large.

In one practical example, assume that one user of the shared imagedevice 101 goes to a sports event with a group of friends. When thatuser actuates the sharing mechanism using their buddy list, the sharedimage device synchronizes with other shared image devices on that buddylist, but not necessarily with the shared image devices at large. In oneembodiment, the “buddy-list” group can be associated with a prescribedpassword, for example. There can be a variety of such embodiments ofshared image devices that range from relatively simple to more complex.The use of the buddy list to actuate the share mechanism in certainembodiments of shared image devices can utilize certain passwords, suchthat those shared image devices that produce the passwords can join thebuddy-list session.

A number of rules can be applied to the shared image devices thatpertain to general concepts of time, space, and/or locations forcapturing the shared images. Such aspects as buddy lists, the numbers ofpictures that can be shared, stop-halt, temporary-halt, percentage ofstorage that can be shared, and the types of pictures that can be shared(e.g., private or public shared images) are exemplary aspects withrespect to shared image devices.

Additionally, in one embodiment, photographers could prioritize theirshared images. For example, certain shared images can vary in qualitybased on, e.g., content, interest, or quality of the shared image in amanner that can be either objectively or subjectively rated, or othersuch factors. Other users may select a shared image device to accessonly those shared images that are above a certain quality level (e.g.good, excellent, fair, etc.). Filtering of the lower quality images,measured by some objective and/or subjective standard, provides atechnique to reduce the amount of data that has to be obtained orretained for each sharing session.

Certain embodiments of shared image devices can be configurable tohandle multiple sharing sessions. For example, suppose a user has aprinter that can handle both a first sharing session and a secondsharing session for a particular digital camera or camcorder. Differentapplications for the shared image devices could thereupon be useful inbusiness, educational, sporting, governmental, police, or applicationsin which an individual obtains shared images for several concurrentevents (or only one event that an individual is not attending). It mightbe desirable to allow a user to subscribe to the multiple sharingsessions substantially simultaneously. The personal computer (PC) can beconfigurable as a peer (of a peer-to-peer shared image networkconfiguration) that monitors the shared images that are being capturedas to select a variety of shared images from multiple shared imagedevices.

In certain embodiments, a status indicator can be provided, either onthe shared image device or separately, and which indicates to othersthat a particular shared image device is in its share mode. One exampleof a status indicator may be an indicator light, or an “active”indicator on the display of the shared image device. Other statusindicators may display some information pertaining to the particularsharing session.

Examples of Viewfinders for Shared Image Devices

In certain embodiments, but not others, a sharing mechanism might beconsidered to function as a virtual picture frame or viewfinder thatallows remotely-located shared image devices such as digital cameras orcamcorders to capture shared images. Viewfinders therefore provide amechanism for one shared image device (which may be configurable aseither a peripheral shared image device, a capturing shared imagedevice, and/or another shared image device) to observe an image that hasbeen, or is being, captured by another shared image device (which may beconfigurable as either a peripheral shared image device, a capturingshared image device, and/or another shared image device). As such,certain embodiments of viewfinders may be considered as operating to“share and/or remotely control another shared image device'sviewfinder”. In one embodiment, a viewfinder at a first shared imagedevice can display at least one image, or a portion thereof, that isbeing imaged at a second shared image device. The second shared imagedevice acts by displaying at least a portion of the at least one imagethat is displayed by the first shared image device as it could appear atthe first shared image device. Those embodiments of shared image devices101 that are provided with viewfinders can be used by users to perform avariety of processing related to the shared images including, but notlimited to, viewing the shared images, selecting those shared images tokeep and those to discard, determine those shared images that willundergo further processing, and determine those shared images to selectan increased resolution version of (e.g., when provided with thumbnails,image information or portions thereof, or metadata describing theimage). For example, certain embodiments of viewfinders may displaythumbnails of shared images. From the thumbnail's, the user determinesthose shared images that are to be accessed in more detail (e.g., havinga greater resolution).

FIG. 28 shows one embodiment of a sharing menu 800 that is integratedwithin a shared image device 101. The sharing menu 800 can be integratedas a portion of the viewfinder of certain embodiments of the sharedimage device 101 (e.g., such as being located on the display of theshared image device). The shared image device can allow a user to join aparticular session, for which they are proximately located using one ofthe above-described mechanisms such as geographic proximity, proximityby communications link, and/or proximity by password.

The sharing menu 800 can include a variety of questions, such asincluding input for the name and/or identity of the user, the userpassword, indicating whether this shared image device is the masterdevice for a particular session, and indicating whether the particularsession has a prescribed duration, and if so, when is the timeout. Theembodiment of the sharing menu 800 as described with respect to FIG. 28is illustrative in nature, and not limiting in scope. In actuality, thesharing menu 800 can have a variety of appearances, shapes, and/orquestions.

FIG. 16 shows one embodiment of a viewfinder 900 that is integratedwithin a shared image device 101. As described with respect to FIG. 16,the shared image device 101, such as a digital camera or camcorder, maybe configurable to capture and/or retain shared images. Alternatively,the shared image device 101 can be a portable image storage and/ordisplay device, or a computer to obtain and/or retain shared images.Certain embodiments of shared image devices do not include theviewfinder 900, and as such would not be used to display shared images.In this disclosure, the viewfinder 900 refers not only to traditionaloptical viewfinders, but also to liquid crystal display (LCD) or otherdisplays such as might be located on the back of the digital camera orcamcorder.

As described with respect to FIG. 16, the shared image device 101 is incommunication via a communication link of 104 with the capturing sharedimage device 101 c. For example, the capturing shared image device 101 cis configurable for capturing images, certain ones of which can beshared images. The viewfinder 900 can thereby display certain imagescaptured by the instant shared image device 101 over a local capturingportion 908 of the viewfinder 900, and also display images captured bythe remote capturing shared image device 101 c over a remote capturingportion 910 of the viewfinder. For example, shown in FIG. 16 are images1 and 2 from a shared image device 1, and images 1 and 2 from a separateshared image device 2; these images may serve as examples of sharedimages. In addition, different embodiments of the shared image device101 as described with respect to FIG. 16 are configured as a capturingshared image device (that can capture an image), or alternately as aperipheral shared image device. As an aside, note that although acertain configuration of the local capturing portion 908 and the remotecapturing portion 910 are shown, in certain embodiments of theviewfinder 900 other configurations/locations of the remote capturingportion 910 in addition to the local capturing portion 908 are possible.

The selection of a relative display of the remote capturing portion 910relative to the local capturing portion 908 over the viewfinder 900 is adesign choice, and the present description is not intended to belimiting in scope. For example, the remote capturing portion 910 of theviewfinder 900 can be provided relative to the local capturing portion908 as an overlying window, an underlying window, a top or bottomwindow, an additional box, overlying text that is physically typed abovethe local capturing portion 908, or a variety of other configurationsthat are known to those skilled in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) suchas Windows (as designed and made commercially available by Microsoft)and Mac (as designed and made commercially available by Apple Computer).

Also described with respect to FIG. 16 is a feedback line 906 thatprovides a user interface between a shared image device 101 and anothershared image device 101 c. The embodiment of the feedback line 906 asdescribed with respect to FIG. 16 allows a user at a local shared imagedevice 101 to provide imaging input to a shared image device 101 c.Certain embodiments of the feedback line 906 can be configurable as awireless link, similar in configuration to the communication link 104.In certain embodiments, the feedback line 906 can be integral with thecommunication link 104. Utilizing certain embodiments of the feedbackline 906, the user at the shared image device 101 thereby providesfeedback to the remote capturing shared image device 101 c as to whatthey want to see, or to particulars of capturing current or futureimages.

In one embodiment, the feedback line 906 includes an audio transmissionline, by which one user can indicate to another user at the shared imagedevice 101 c to, perhaps, move the particular shared image device 101 cto another location, detect a different field of view, zoomed in or out,otherwise adjust the settings of the capturing shared image device,provide a shared image, do not provide a shared image, capture anothershared image, to not capture another shared image, or perform a varietyof other task(s) with the shared image device 101 c.

Non-verbal instructions, similar in nature to those described as beingtransmitted over the audio version of the feedback line 906, can also betransmitted over a text-based or other graphical version of the feedbackline. For example, a user in one shared image device can indicate to auser and another shared image device to scan in another direction byusing a series of the arrows or other recognizable indicators that aretransmitted utilizing GUI nomenclature via the feedback line 906. Oneuser can also type to a remote user to zoom in or out.

The different embodiments of the feedback line 906 can be added, inaddition to those feedback lines that are integral with eachcommunication link 104, as described in this disclosure. Increasing thetypes and amount of communications that can be transmitted utilizing thefeedback line 906 can thereby provide more interaction between the usersand remotely-located shared image devices, thereby potentially improvingan overall image sharing experience.

As described in this disclosure, certain embodiments of the viewfinder900 thereby can be configurable in a variety of configurations todisplay the images in a variety of formats depending upon the type ofthe shared image device, the volume of data that is available to storetherein, the amount of shared images that actually are stored therein,and the user input.

The viewfinder 900 may be utilized in a variety of shared image devices101 to display certain shared images. As such, a first shared imagedevice can capture or copy a shared image, or a portion thereof, from asecond shared image device at a remote location from the first sharedimage device. Under these circumstances, the first shared image devicecan actually utilize the imaging aspects or equipment of the secondshared image device. Instead of photographing a vision or scene withmultiple shared image devices, the scene can be photographed by only onedevice, and the distributed images can be combined to be copied orshared with other shared image devices.

It is thereby possible in certain embodiments to utilize another sharedimage devices' viewfinder 900 including the local capturing portion 908and the remote capturing portion 910; such that one user can see what'son somebody else's shared image device. Suppose, for example, one sharedimage device that is at a child's birthday party is positioned at aswing while a second is at a swimming pool. It may be desirable toswitch between the images that appear in the viewfinder 900 of themultiple shared image devices. Such viewfinders can exist in manyembodiments of the peripheral shared image device 101 that is providingsome operation information over a communication link 104 to thedesignating shared image device 101 j, and/or the sharing shared imagedevice (see e.g. FIG. 5) to control an operation of the capturing sharedimage device.

This use of switching viewfinders 900 for the shared image devices canalso be applied to business, educational, personal, or otherapplications. For example, there might be multiple blackboards orwhiteboards in a classroom that can be captured by multiple shared imagedevices. Alternatively, a user may wish to view what is going on in oneclass while attending another. Certain embodiments of the shared imagedevice as described in this disclosure can thereby, essentially,bookmark activities at another shared image device.

In certain applications, it may therefore be worthwhile to view somebodyelse's viewfinder 900 as opposed to just obtaining or retaining sharedimages that might have been captured. This also provides a technique toview the viewfinder 900 of another shared image device. For example, oneshared image device can be used to indicate to a second shared imagedevice that the subject of the first shared image device; as such,please capture an image at the second shared image device for the firstshared image device.

Sharing or copying images between multiple shared image devices canthereby be considered as copying a captured image from the capturingshared image device to the other shared image devices (such other sharedimage devices can be configurable either as a capturing and/orperipheral shared image device). The quality, resolution, and othercharacteristics of each shared image are initially determined by theimage in properties of the capturing shared image device that capturedthat shared image.

Consider that, in one embodiment, a first shared image device has ahigher resolution compared to other shared image device(s), such thatrelatively high quality shared images can be copied and distributed withother shared image devices (that are only capable of capturing lowerresolution shared images). In certain sharing sessions, the best, orhighest resolution, shared image device, or those used by the bestphotographer, can be used to capture shared images or portions thereoffor other sharing devices in the sharing session. Each image orphotograph can be captured by the particular desired capturing sharedimage device (highest resolution, least memory used, flash capability,demonstrated ability to take good shared images, etc.). The sharedimages captured by multiple shared image devices can then be copied orshared into each desired shared image device.

As such, a particular user may have a number of capturing shared imagedevices, each shared image device is considered optimal to capture aparticular type of image. The sharing mechanism as described in thisdisclosure thereby allows the shared image that is being captured byeach of these capturing shared image devices to be transferred betweenthese multiple shared image devices to one or more selected shared imagedevices. Those images received by the selected shared image device fromeach of these “optimized” shared image devices are thereby identical tothose images captured by the capturing shared image device.

Certain embodiments of the viewfinder 900 provide a mechanism by whichthe shared image device displays those images which, in time, can becopied to at least one other shared image device.

In one embodiment, the viewfinder 900 is used to subscribe to data fromother shared image devices. New functionality might be provided to oneshared image device based on the images, data, and/or information beingshared or copied from other shared image devices. For example, theviewfinder 900 might annotate its display to show which geographic areashave been sufficiently captured or covered by previous shared images. Inthe case where the shared image device 101 is a digital camera orcamcorder, that new functionality may include an enhanced resolution, anocclusion removal, etc.

The viewfinder 900 can be utilized to publish the presence of itsinformation to users. For example, the viewfinder might annotate itsdisplay to show those areas of a shared image that are most desired byother users. The user looking through the viewfinder 900 might alter thesubject of the current shared image (such as by changing direction orzooming) based on what it detects as the most valuable people, places,or other subjects to photograph. Within this disclosure, the term“valuable” is highly subjective, and can refer to, e.g., an area thathas not already been captured by other cameras (for example a particularchild at a birthday party who has not been frequently imaged, a remotecorner of a park at a particular time of day, a publicly-knownindividual, a group of individuals, or a person involved in an activityspecifically requested by someone). Such determination of a particularlyvaluable individual or image can be input manually, or somewhatautomatically using a recognition program or positioning program.

In certain embodiments, the viewfinder 900 can also indicate what hasalready been shared. Using image processing techniques, prior sharedimages can be considered. For example, children at a birthday partywhose images have been captured (photographed) frequently might, incertain embodiments, appear differently within the viewfinder 900compared to those having few captured images. In one embodiment, a userof a shared image device such as a digital camera or camcorder visuallyscans around a room during a sharing session such as a birthday party,and those kids who have been photographed often might get someindication on the viewfinder 900. As an example, less captured subjectsmay “sparkle” compared with more captured subjects. In one embodiment,such functionality can be provided depending largely on the real-timerecognizers that can analyze or store the identity of particularindividuals. Areas in the viewfinder 900 that are more valuable tophotograph might sparkle or display an outline or be color-coded incertain embodiments of the viewfinders for the shared image devices. Anexplicit monetary value indicator might also be associated with thesevaluable areas.

In certain embodiments, positional information such as those from globalpositioning system (GPS), metadata, or those including reference to somegeographic location, particular individual, or setting can be used toindicate where certain pictures have been captured. For example, ifoutdoors, then GPS derived positional information can be used toindicate the physical location, and therefore information about thesubject, of a particular photograph.

Consider that the viewfinder 900 display indicates that a large numberof pictures have been captured of the same birthday cake, etc. Incertain embodiments, this similar-composition shared image can beapplied to devices lacking a sharing mechanism, as well as a sharedimage device 101. For example, if a particular user has captured a largenumber of images of one particular object, they would likely want tohave an indication of it so that they can change the subject of furtherimages. In another embodiment, perhaps a birds-eye view can be providedon at least some of the shared image devices to indicate where priorshared images in the sharing session have been captured. The recognitionalgorithm can vary widely in scope. For example, in one embodiment,positional information relating to where shared images have beencaptured could be indicated and searched, based on derived GPScoordinates and/or other positional information. In one embodiment,those shared images that the current shared image device (or anyparticular shared image device) has captured can be highlighted in somemanner along the bottom, side, top, etc. of the viewfinder 900.

In certain embodiments, pictures can be sorted based on color schemes,or color map queries. An example might be considering N shared imagesthat appear most similar to M shared images (where M and N identifyparticular shared images) from a computational perspective. In thoseinstances, images that have been stored in memory can be quicklyaccessed and returned to one or more of shared image devices. This typeof task can be configured to, for example, view images chronologically,based on their subject, based on their location, or based on theirvalue, etc. can be achieved using commercially available patternrecognition programs that are configured to recognize such patterns.Instead of viewing the shared images based on their time sequences, theimages are sorted based at least partially on composition in certainembodiments of shared image devices. Image processing or signalprocessing techniques can be applied to the shared image devices todetermine certain characteristics of the shared images.

As technology improves, more memory storing-capabilities will likely beprovided to many individual shared image devices such as digitalcameras, camcorders, printers, and other such capturing and peripheraldevices. The cost of individual digital shared images will likelycontinue to decrease as the associated technology improves. The sharingor copying of a considerable number of shared images from one capturingshared image device to another will become more affordable, especiallyas memory storage cost drops.

Other types of shared image sorting, shared image querying, or sharedimage storing techniques may be provided by a computer after the sharedimages could have been obtained or retained from a digital camera,camcorder, or web site. However, this feature will also likely be usefulfor the sharing mechanism between multiple shared image devices.

In one embodiment, the most recently input information (e.g., one or fewshared images) of the sessions shared image devices 101, such as digitalcameras, can also be shown on the viewfinder 900 such as shown withrespect to FIGS. 16 and 22-25. For example, display the last five or tenshared images captured in one embodiment. In another embodiment,thumbnails of the images as described with respect to FIG. 23 can beprovided (e.g., the last four thumbnails that provide an image having agreatly reduced resolution and dimension from the original image).Alternatively, the metadata can also indicate the time that each imagehas been captured by the member shared image devices that have beenparticipating in the session (e.g., organize by the latest capturedimages). These figures are intended to be illustrative in nature, notlimiting in scope.

In certain above-described embodiments of the viewfinders 900 asdescribed for example with respect to FIGS. 16, and 22-26, the remotecapturing portion 910 can be inserted as a distinctive window or textthat is layered above a separate local capturing portion 908. Thisviewfinder configuration enhances use of the local viewfinder whilemonitoring shared images that might have originated from remote devices.

A variety of viewfinder displays can be provided, such as illustrated inFIGS. 25 and 26. The embodiment of the viewfinder 900 as described withrespect to FIG. 25 contains an inset portion 1402 that indicates howmany images have been captured at a particular session in each of avariety of geographic locations. For example, the number of photographscaptured in a living room, kitchen area, dining room, or outside isindicated. The number of images that have been captured can further besegmented according to the configuration of the particular shared imagedevices (e.g., the total captured images that have been captured in theliving room include three from shared image device 1, five from sharedimage device 2, etc.). The geographic positioning of the shared imagescan further be displayed in any desired manner. Such description of thenumber of images taken within portions of houses can be indicated by auser inputting, for example, the general layout and positioning of therooms within the house using, for example, software that the user canuse to draw the various rooms.

The user of each shared image device might thereupon be prompted as tothe specific room, region, or other locational area in which aparticular shared image can be captured. Alternately, additionalpositioning equipment such as a GPS unit can be installed in each sharedimage device, and the locations of the photographs and thereupon beapplied to the particular rooms depending upon the derived GPS positions(e.g., as described by metadata).

Another embodiment of the viewfinder 900 is described with respect tothe inset 1502 of FIG. 26, in which the view finder indicates the numberof images captured of each subject within the session. Certainembodiments of the viewfinder 900 can indicate the number of imagescaptured of each subject by each respective shared image device. Theinset 1502 indicates, for example, that only two images have beencaptured of Jessie, and as such, she might be a prime candidate to bethe subject of more images. Such indications of the number of imagescaptured of each particular subject can be either manual (e.g., eachuser of a shared image device indicates the name of the subject for eachimage) or substantially automatic (e.g., the shared image devicecontains some recognition device that recognizes the identity of eachsubject for the shared images captured during the session, and therebydetermines the identity of the subject for each image). There can be anumber of different embodiments or versions of recognition software thatcan be utilized in different embodiments of the shared image devices, asdescribed within this disclosure.

Certain embodiments of a status insert 1504, as included in theviewfinder 900 as described with respect to FIG. 26, can indicate thepercentage of the operational resources for the shared image device thathave been utilized. The used resources as indicated in the status insert1504 can include, for example, the number of images captured, the numberof images remaining, the percentage of storage memory remaining, theamount of battery life remaining, etc. Certain embodiments of theviewfinder as described with respect to FIG. 26 can be configurable toobtain or retain shared images. The rate of obtaining or retaining bythat shared image device as well as the memory storage size of thatshared image device largely determines how much time will remain untilsome prescribed duration is reached for capturing shared images.

As such, metadata can be associated with a particular shared image. Forexample, metadata can indicate a camera in a sharing session that tookthe shared image, the owner of the camera that took the shared image,the geographic location that the shared image was captured, the identityof an individual being imaged, subject of the shared image, the identityof the particular sharing session, etc.

Another embodiment of the viewfinder 900 displays the local capturingportion 908 within the remote capturing portion 910 as described withrespect to FIG. 27. These embodiments of viewfinders can be used toprovide a view of a combined image that can be captured. For example,the combined image that is captured by the shared image device largelyreflects that provided within the viewfinder, in which a local subjectcontained within the local capturing portion 908, can be inserted into aremote capturing portion that may have been previously or remotelyimaged. The combined image that is imaged can thereby, for example, beformed by combining at least a portion of a first image captured at alocal capturing portion 908 (e.g., captured by a local shared imagedevice) with at least a portion of a second image captured at a remotecapturing portion 910 (e.g., captured either by the local or by a remoteshared image device). For example, the viewfinder 900 as shown in FIG.27 can illustrate the appearance of the combined image to a user overthe viewfinder 900.

In one embodiment, the local shared image device can be provided with apanoramic vision. The panoramic view formed partially by including othershared images can be configured to appear in the viewfinder 900 as aghosted feature or framing feature as displayed in FIG. 27 (e.g., thatincludes, for example, mountains or trees). For example, the areaoutside of the dotted lines in FIG. 27 might represent those imagescaptured previously, such as with the same or another shared imagedevice, of a picture of Mt. Rushmore, Yosemite, portions of New York,etc., perhaps on a sunny day, at sunset, or at some other particularlyphotogenic period. By using framing features, a shared image device cancapture the user within a portion of an image, but not the entirety ofthe image. The remainder of the image can be considered as a framingportion, while the portion being captured can be considered as a framedportion. The currently-imaged portion that is shown within the dottedlines can include the local capturing portion 908, which in many casesincludes the immediate subject (e.g., wife, family, etc.). It is to beunderstood that certain embodiments of the shared image devices may notonly share substantially-simultaneously captured images, but they mayalso share multiple images that have been captured at different times,different days, and even at different locations compared to when one ormore portions of the images have been taken.

A variety of graphical user interface (GUI) techniques (GUIs, ingeneral, are commercially available) can be applied where the localcapturing portion 908 is integrated within the remote capturing portion910, as described with respect to FIG. 27. Such varying techniques ofoverlaying GUI windows, for example, are familiar to many users anddesigners of windows-based operating systems such as Windows or Mac.

It might be interesting, for example, to combine multiple ones of theseshared images using a similar ghosted feature to provide a single sharedimage. Similarly, embodiment involves providing a three-dimensionalshared image using multiple photographs (e.g., two, three, or more) ofthe same shared object from different angles. A variety of imagingapplications, such as providing a driving or aircraft simulator, may beaccomplished in which a variety of shared images are overlaying othershared images, at which certain of the overlaying shared images caninclude motion images to our present, for example, motion of instrumentsassociated with such simulators. Such interlaying of images may providea particularly realistic image.

From another aspect, such overlaying of static and/or motion images asassociated with many embodiments of a share mechanism described withinthis disclosure relative to some description of where to place aparticular shared room image device to achieve some multi-image effectwith other shared image devices utilizing windowing or similar GUItechniques. Some software can be utilized to achieve thepanoramic/3-dimensional/or other effects as desired. Certain embodimentsof viewfinders for shared image devices involves using other people'sshared image devices such as cameras, to insert old bookmarks atlocations in where their cameras could have been located.

One viewfinder 900 embodiment involves using other people's shared imagedevices such as cameras, and put old bookmarks at locations in wheretheir cameras could have been located.

In yet another embodiment, the viewfinder 900 of the shared image devicecan be provided with an indicator that provides positional informationas to where the images have been captured. Such positional informationcan range from, but not be limited to, metadata that contains thelatitude/longitude, GPS waypoint, within a known commercial location(e.g., at Sears Starbucks, etc.), at some residential location (withinthe living room at the Jones'), etc.

Examples of Variable Resolution

Different embodiments of the shared image devices can provide imageswith different resolutions. In fact, certain shared image devices canalter the resolution of their images. Certain embodiments of sharedimage devices can increase the number of images that can be shared orimaged by adjusting the resolution of one or more of the images. Incertain embodiments of shared image devices, the entirety of, portionsof, or information relating to, the images captured during a sharingsession can be viewed on the viewfinder of the shared image device.Conceivably, the ones that a user has captured, or that satisfy someother criteria, will be accepted at the highest resolution. Varying theimage resolution therefore partially pertains to the capacity of theshared image device, as described above. Other images will be acceptedat low resolutions. In certain embodiments, the lower resolution imagescan be kept, rejected, or selected having a corresponding higherresolution image obtained or retained in the future.

Commercially available technology can provide always-on video, forcertain embodiments of shared image devices. Such always-on technologycan likely be applied to shared image devices. As such, actuating thesharing mechanism may be one technique for determining interest of aparticular shared image, wherein another user of a shared image devicecan provide feedback via audio as to how a shared image can be altered(e.g., modify the subject, vary the resolution or zoom of the image,etc.). If the current image appears interesting, one user of a sharedimage device can turn on an audio microphone to communicate with anothershared image device, and either capture a current image and/or a currentsound. Additionally, if there is one image of particular interest, itmay be desirable to obtain or retain five images chronologically oneither side of that image that had been captured by that particularshared image device.

Consider a shared image device application such as a friend providinglive pictures of a ski resort, a beach area, and/or a snowy pass thathave been captured using a share mechanism, wherein the current weatherconditions make a difference. The sharing mechanism 102 can be used toaccess such information on a near-real-time basis. The images that canbe accessed on a near-real-time basis may have reduced highestresolution. As such, it may be desirable to reduce the resolution forcertain imaging applications.

The variable resolution control represents another embodiment of acapacity-control device. Consider that lower-resolution images (e.g.,thumbnails and/or metadata) generally require less memory storage thanhigher-resolution images. As such, for a given memory, a larger numberof lower-resolution images can be stored than higher-resolution images.In addition, capturing higher-resolution images often utilizes morebattery life than with lower-resolution images. All of these factor intothe type of image that is to be stored.

In many embodiments of shared image devices, converting the resolutionof images may utilize considerable device energy, such as battery life.As such, to reduce the drain on the energy expended by certainbattery-powered devices during resolution conversion processes; it maybe desired to transfer images to another shared image device(s) so thatthe other shared image device (that presumably has greater energy, suchas a printer or computer that may be plugged in) can vary the resolutionof the images. Further consider those instances where a user of a sharedimage device has filled their device with high-resolution images. Thisuser will be able to utilize capacity control by storing further imagesas thumbnails and/or metadata that in certain embodiments can beaccessed later when the user obtains or retains their current image, orotherwise obtains more memory. In certain embodiments, the user will beable to access the high-resolution versions of all of the desired imagesfrom home, or some other location, via a network.

Many shared image devices that are configured to capture images and/orotherwise process images in different resolutions. Within thisdisclosure, the term “resolution” provides a measurement of imagedetail, such as can be expressed as pixels per inch, dots per inch, orsamples per inch, etc. In certain embodiments, the files size of animage is a function of its resolution, and with certain embodiments ofrelatively limited storage-capability cameras, relatively few highresolution images can be captured. It may be desired to convert theresolution of certain images depending upon their particular applicationand/or the configuration of the particular device.

A variety of devices including, but not limited to, shared image devicescan be configured to perform a variety of functions including, but notlimited to, imaging, capturing, obtaining, retaining, storing, storingand forwarding, and/or otherwise processing images depending upon theparticular resolution(s) for that device, which may differ fromresolutions of other devices.

Changing the resolution of an image represents one example of an imagetransformation. A number of shared image devices that process images cantherefore be configurable for performing one or more imagetransformations. Within this disclosure, examples of such imagetransformations include, but are not limited to, changing the resolutionof one or more images, resampling one or more images, adjusting anexposure of one or more images, adjusting some image content recognitionof the one or more images, adjusting image composition of one or moreimages, and/or modifying at least some metadata associated with the onemore images. This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of aresolution conversion portion that can be integrated within the sharedimage device, or alternatively can be located outside of the sharedimage device and operatively coupled thereto.

The resolution conversion portion can in certain embodiments, but notothers, act to alter the resolution of images that have been captured orotherwise obtained. As described within this disclosure, certainembodiments of the resolution conversion portion are configurable toincrease or decrease the resolution of the image such as by utilizingpixel-interpolation and/or combination of multiple images. As alsodescribed within this disclosure, certain embodiments of the resolutionconversion portion are configurable to decrease or increase theresolution of the image. Different embodiments of the resolutionconversion portion are described herein. Within this disclosure, theterms “resolution conversion” and “resampling” can in many instances butnot others be considered similar, since both can involve similarprocesses of altering image intensity and/or color values. Resamplingcan in certain embodiments, but not others, be equated to sizing theresolution of an image upward or downward; and can in certainembodiments but not others can be implemented by respectively adding orremoving pixels from a given image as described in this disclosure.

Within this disclosure, the term “changing the resolution” of an imagemay pertain in certain embodiments, but not others, to altering thecolor values and/or the color intensities of a particular image. As such“increasing the resolution” of an image may pertain to increasing thedensity of pixels that can be provided with distinctly variable colorvalues or color intensities. Decreasing the resolution of an image maypertain to decreasing the density of the pixels forming the image.During a resolution conversion process, in certain embodiments of adisplay or projector, the footprint of pixels can actually be suitablyaltered to effectively change the resolution of the at least one image.

In certain embodiments of display devices or projectors, a single pixelintensity can be implemented utilizing a plurality of neighboringpixels, in which each of the neighboring pixels can each have asubstantially identical color value and intensity. As such, theplurality of pixels can act as a single pixel with a footprint thatcorresponds to the planar area encompassing the plurality of pixels.

Within this disclosure, shared image devices are considered thosedevices that are configurable to image or capture at least one imagesuch as digital cameras or camcorders. The utilization of capturingshared image devices has recently changed considerably (and is expectedto continue to change) as the expense of digital storage media continuesto decrease while the technology and ease of operation of the digitalstorage media improves. Capturing images using digital cameras orcamcorders can each be equated with photography as performed byconventional film cameras.

Certain embodiments of this disclosure thereby provide a mechanism ortechnique by which an image capturing shared image device, such as adigital camera or camcorder, can resample or perform resolutionconversion of images contained therein. Such resolution conversion orresampling techniques can be energy intensive, and therefore can utilizea considerable amount of energy from the battery of the digital camera.In many embodiments, such resampling by a device may thereby alter thenumber of pixels that can be set within an image. Images, captured atdifferent resolutions can be optimized for different purposes. Forexample, if one or more particular images are intended to be displayedover a computer monitor, and the resolution of the computer monitor is alimiting factor on the displayed resolution, than a relatively lowresolution for the image may be completely satisfactory for its intendedpurpose. If a particular image is being printed on a relatively largesheet of paper as a print, then it may be desired to have a considerablyhigher resolution image for its intended purpose.

Additionally, certain images can be utilized by more than one user,and/or for more than one purpose. For example, one user may wish to haveboth a copy of an image at a particular resolution to be used for onemedia, e.g., a computer monitor; and another copy of the same image atanother resolution to be used for another media, e.g., a printed copy.As such, it may be desired to resample or convert the resolution of aparticular image based upon the intended use or desires of eachparticular user. In those instances where a camera's memory can onlystore a prescribed number of images, it may be desired to decrease theresolution of certain images, or alternatively increase the resolutionof certain images, depending upon the particular use of, and/or thedevice utilizing, those images. As such, certain embodiments of thisdisclosure provide a mechanism by which a single image, or a group ofimages of a fixed or controllable size can be resampled therein.

Advances in technology to shared image devices (such as flash memory)provide for data storage of a relatively large amount of image datawithin shared image devices. Such increases in the amount of image datathat can be stored can be reflected by more images being stored and/orat least some of the images that are being stored having a greaterresolution. In many embodiments of the shared image device as describedwithin this disclosure, it is envisioned that the shared image devicecan be provided with relatively sophisticated processing capabilities,which will allow for image processing that will allow for resamplingand/or resolution conversion.

Such resolution conversion, or resampling, as performed by theresolution conversion portion of the shared image devices, can utilize aconsiderable amount of device energy capacity. Such device energycapacity is especially important for those devices that have a limitedenergy sources, such as batteries. Within this disclosure, the sharedimage device energy capacity can be can represent a variety oftechniques including internal battery life estimate, replaceable batterylife estimate, auxiliary battery life estimate, or the like. As such, inthis disclosure, the term “energy capacity” as applied to the sharedimage device is intended to apply to the capacity of batteries or otherenergy sources that supply electrical power to the shared image device,regardless where the energy device is located or mounted with respect tothe shared image device. Some other power source from a battery, such asa continual energy supply or an uninterruptible or other energy supply,can also be applied to the shared image device while remaining withinthe scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, this disclosure provides a number of techniques bywhich the amount of energy that is utilized by the shared image deviceto perform the resolution conversion is estimated or monitored. The userof certain embodiments of the shared image device can include anindicator that provides an indication of the energy necessary to performthe conversion, in many embodiments of which can then be compared on theindicator to the amount of energy currently included in the shared imagedevice. Other embodiments of the shared image device can commenceconversion of resolution of one or more images only in thosecircumstances that the shared image device has sufficient energy toperform the conversion.

In certain embodiments of the shared image device, the shared imagedevice energy capacity can thereby act as one limiting factor forimaging or resolution conversion for the shared image device, based onwhether the shared image device has sufficient energy to perform theoperation on one or more images. As such, other device capacitytechniques or mechanisms can include, but are not limited to, aprocessing power capacity, a storage memory capacity, or an availablecomputation time capacity. In actuality, many of the device capacitiesare related. For example, an available computation time capacity for aparticular shared image device may relate to an energy capacity for thatshared image device, such that increasing the device's energy capacityleads to an increase in the devices computation time capacity and/thedevices storage memory capacity.

Certain shared image device capacities can therefore, in certainembodiments, be considered as a limit on some prescribed process thatcan be performed by that shared image device. For example, if a sharedimage device has a limited energy supply that is sufficient to capturesome limited number of images, than the shared image device may not beable to be utilized after imaging that number of images without anenergy source charge, insertion of new batteries, etc. Differentexamples of a prescribed process that may be of interest to the user ofthe shared image device therefore include, but are not limited to,altering a resolution of an image, capturing or imaging an image,operating a flash mechanism, obtaining an image, retaining an image,storing and/or forwarding an image, etc. As such, it is to be understoodthat many of the shared image device's operational capacity capabilitiescan be heavily burdened by performing typical imaging and otherprocessor intensive operations.

This disclosure thereby provides for a number of different embodimentsof a mechanism or technique to estimate one or more operationalresources of a shared image device that are utilized to perform an imagetransformation. The mechanism or technique thereby estimates whether theshared image device has adequate operational capacity to perform theimage transformation to transform the one or more images. Differentembodiments of the image transformation estimator can include, but arenot limited to, and image resolution conversion estimator, and imageexposure adjustment estimator, and image metadata modification onestimator, an image content recognition estimator, and an imagecomposition adjustment estimator.

By estimating whether the shared image device has adequate deviceoperational capacity to perform a particular image transformation allowsthe shared image devices to perform the image transformation if it does,indeed, have sufficient operational capacity. However, if the sharedimage device does not have adequate device operational capacity toperform the particular image transformation, the shared image device cantransfer the image information to another device, that does indeed havethe capabilities to perform the image transformation. Another option isto indicate the amount of device capacity (e.g., energy) that would berequired by the shared image device to perform the particular imagetransformation, and compare that to the total device capacity for thatshared image device. As such, if a particular image transformation willconsume a large percentage of the total device capacity for a particularshared image devices, then the user may decide not to perform that imagetransformation.

Certain devices such as computers, PDAs, printers, display devices,processing devices, etc. can be provided with an electric cord or arelatively large battery, which represents a virtually infinite energysupply. There are a large variety of commercially-available shared imagedevices including, but not limited to: cameras, printers, facsimilemachines, computers, personal display assistants (PDA), etc. Each sharedimage device includes some imaging program, such as produced with thehardware, software, or firmware, that is configured to perform someimaging process that is consonant with the intended purpose of theshared image device. Examples of imaging processing techniques include,but are not limited to, data compression, data decompression, resolutionenhancement, resolution reduction, noise reduction, filtering, etc. Assuch, in certain instances users of shared image devices can considerthat it often may be beneficial to transfer some or all of the images tosuch large-capacity devices.

Within the disclosure, the terms “images”, or “image information” canpertain to full images, portions of images, segments of full images,thumbnails of images, information that describes particular images suchas metadata (that can contain such information as the subject of theimage, identifying who took the image, where the image was captured, thereference number of the image, etc.). Within this disclosure, metadatacan be associated with a particular image or set of images. For example,a particular image may include metadata that describes such informationas the subject of the image, the date and time of the image, location ofthe image, the owner of the shared image device, etc. It is envisionedthat the metadata that is associated with the particular image can bemodified as, for example, the image itself is altered such as bychanging the resolution. In certain embodiments, metadata can be usedduring processing of the image. For example, if it is desired todetermine all images captured by a particular user or including aparticular subject, the metadata can be queried in certain instances toderive one or more images to satisfy that query.

Within this disclosure, the terms “image representation” or “image” canpertain to images, thumbnails of images, icons that pertain to images,portions of images, images having altered resolution, informationpertaining to images such as metadata, etc. The term “obtain” can applyto obtaining shared images either by capturing or by data transfer fromanother shared image device. The term “retain” can apply to storingshared images for some duration regardless how temporary or permanentthe storage duration within a memory storage device.

Certain embodiments of still images can include photographs or digitalimages that can be captured by the image device such as, for example, adigital camera. Certain embodiments of motion images can include videosthat may be captured by the image device such as, for example, acamcorder. A variety of embodiments of the sharing mechanism cantherefore handle such exemplary shared images as digital still images ordigital motion images that are either alone or in combination withvideo, audio, music, etc.

One embodiment of a shared image network 100 is described with respectto FIG. 7. The shared image network 100 pertains to any motion pictureimaging system or still picture imaging system that is within thedescribed intended scope of the present disclosure, unless otherwiseindicated. One embodiment of the shared image network 100 includes ashared image device 101, an optional peripheral shared image device 120,and an optional communication link 104.

The shared image device 101 is configurable to capture images. Indifferent embodiments, the shared image device 101 can be configured as,but not limited to, a digital camera, a camcorder, a cellular phone withpicture taking capabilities, a computer or PDA with picture takingcapabilities, etc. The shared image device 101 can be operationallysub-divided into an imaging portion 615 and data storage portion 614.Different embodiments of the shared image device 101 can capture, orphotograph, a variety of images including, but not limited to, stillimages, motion images, video, audio, thumbprints, or other informationrelating to the images such as metadata. Different embodiments of theshared image device 101 can be configured to capture, obtain, retain, orotherwise process a variety of images including, but not limited to,color images, grayscale images, etc.

One embodiment of the shared image device 101 is configured to convertto the resolution of images that have been captured, retained, orobtained to a different resolution. This disclosure describes a varietyof illustrative image transformation techniques for shared imagedevices, that are not considered to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure. For different embodiments of the shared image device 101,depending upon the functional purpose of the shared image device 101 andother considerations; the resolution can be converted from either ahigher resolution to a lower resolution, or alternatively from a lowerresolution to a higher resolution. One aspect of such resolutionconversion as may be performed by many embodiments while not otherembodiments of the shared image devices 101, is that such resolutionconversion techniques can consume a large amount of energy for theshared image devices such as battery life.

The resolution of the images within the shared image device 101 can beadjusted manually, automatically, or semi-automatically, utilizing thedifferent embodiments of the resolution conversion techniques asdescribed herein. Such manual adjustments of the shared image device canbe performed, for example, by a user responding to input that isdisplayed on the viewfinder; and based on the users previous experience,understanding how much energy is necessary to perform such conversion.In other embodiments, altering of a resolution level can be performedsubstantially automatically utilizing the controller 603. For example,the controller 603 can receive input or monitor the current or recentenergy state or life expectancy of the battery or other energy device,consider the amount of energy utilized by the shared image device 101 toconvert the resolution of the at least one image based at leastpartially on the number of images whose resolution is to be converted.The shared image devices 101 can contain a wide variety of displays toprovide this information to the user. In many embodiments, the deviceoperational capacity indicator (e.g., an energy level indicator) of theshared image device can reduce the number of images that can becaptured, and thereby increase the effective useful life of the sharedimage device. In many embodiments, but not others, it may be desirableto limit the energy consumed by the display similar to it beingdesirable to reduce the amount of energy utilized by the resolutionconversion.

The image resolution conversion energy monitoring technique can alsoinclude a number of optional steps. If the shared image device does havesufficient energy to convert the resolution of the one or more images,then the shared image device can convert the one or more images from thefirst resolution to the second resolution. If the shared image devicedoes not have sufficient energy to convert the resolution of the one ormore images, then the shared image device can transfer the one or moreimages from the shared image device to a second device (such as theperipheral shared image device 120). The conversion of the resolution ofthe one or more images can be performed at the second device from thefirst resolution to the second resolution. Presumably, the energy levelavailable to the second device that can be configured in certainembodiments as a peripheral shared image device 120 and in otherembodiments as a device that does not necessarily capture or photographimages, but instead processes images. The ability to convert theresolution of the images is presumably greater in the second device thanin the shared image device, for example, the peripheral shared imagedevice 120 can be a device that is plugged into an electric outlet, orcontain a larger battery, to receive a substantially continual supply ofelectricity.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate front views of two embodiments of a sharedimage device 101 that includes energy level indicators 302. In thisdisclosure, the energy level of a particular device represents oneembodiment of the device's operational capacity. As such, the energylevel indicator 302 represents one embodiment of an operational capacityindicator. Therefore, the energy level indicator 302 can also beconsidered as an operational capacity indicator. Certain embodiments ofthe energy level indicator 302 or operational capacity indicator areconfigurable to indicate the total energy that the shared image devicehas remaining in its energy source such as, but not limited to: batterylife, additional energy source life, etc. In one embodiment, the energylevel indicator 302 is provided within a camera display or viewfinder304 that is contained within the shared image device 101. Certainembodiments of the camera displays or viewfinders 304 can be providedfor such shared image devices as digital cameras or camcorders, and caninclude liquid crystal display (LCD) displays, optical displays, and avariety of other displays. In certain embodiments of the energy levelindicator 302, the energy level indicator can be temporarily provided ina manner that can be controlled by the user of the shared image device101. As such, if the user sought to see, or visually monitor, the energylevel, then a menu-driven option could be selected or alternatively abutton could be pressed to display (or alternatively, to deselect to notdisplay) the energy level. In other embodiments of the shared imagedevice 101, the energy level indicator 302 can be provided separatelyfrom the camera display or viewfinder such as being built in, as aseparate display, within the body of the shared image device.

In one embodiment of the shared image device 101, the amount of energyutilized by the shared image devices to perform an image resolutionconversion process of one, or more of the images relating to the sharedimage device can generally be determined based either on prior devicehistory, are generally on operations by similar shared image devices.For example, a user of the shared image device 101 may understand thatresolution conversion of 15 images having a particular pixel dimension(and color value) may utilize 20 percent of the energy of the sharedimage device. As such, in one embodiment, the energy level indicator 302can indicate the number of images that can be imaged by the shared imagedevice based upon the current energy level of the shared image device.Within this disclosure, the amount of energy necessary to perform aparticular resolution conversion is intended to be illustrative innature, and not limiting in scope. As an illustrative example, if theenergy level indicator 302 indicates that the shared image device has40% of its energy remaining, the user may not desire to perform aresolution conversion on a relatively large number of images (e.g., 50images).

Such resolution conversion depending, at least in part, on energy of theshared image devices 101 can be automated, or semi-automated, as well bysuitable programming within the controller 603. It may be desired incertain embodiments of the shared image device to illustrate the numberof images that have their resolution converted, based on the particularenergy level from the energy level indicator 302 of the shared imagedevice 101. For example, FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of an imageresolution conversion numerical indicator 402 that indicates, based onthe particular energy level indicated by the energy level indicator 302,that twelve images can have their resolution converted as indicated bythe image resolution conversion numerical indicator 402. Since, incertain embodiments of the shared image device 101 while not in others,the structure and operation of the image resolution conversion numericalindicator 402 and the energy level indicator 302 can be associated witheach other, and such association can be indicated on the camera displayor viewfinder based largely upon their relative positioning such as, forexample, positioning the two indicators 302, and 402 near to each otherwithin a shared image device display or viewfinder 304, or in anotherportion of the shared image device for different embodiments of theshared image device.

The particular configuration of the energy level indicator 302 and tothe image resolution conversion numerical indicator 402, as illustratedwith respect to FIG. 9, is intended to be illustrative in nature, whilenot limiting in scope. For example, the image resolution conversionnumerical indicator 402 can also, be a bar graph that indicates thenumber of similar images to those that are being considered to beresampled, that can be resampled, based upon the current energy level ofthe shared image device. As such, depending on the particular operation,dimension, and desired appearance of the image resolution conversionnumerical indicator 402 or the energy level indicator 302, either of theindicators 402 or 302 can be configured as a numeric indicator, as text,as a bar graph, as a graph, as a percentage indicator, or as any othernumerical or percentage indicator as desired. It is also to beunderstood that the indicators 302 or 402 can be configured to appear asdesired based upon user input, device utilization, and device condition,and be non-visible during other times. For example, when a user isproviding input to alter the resolution, it is likely that bothindicators 302 and 402 should be made visible over the camera display orviewfinder. During other periods, the indicators 302 or 402 may not beshown in certain embodiments of the shared image device 101.

As described in this disclosure, there are a number of embodiments ofresolution conversion to be performed by certain embodiments of theshared image device 101. Such imaging conversion processes can begenerally categorized as either increasing the resolution or decreasingthe resolution of images being captured by, contained within, orretained within the shared image device 101.

Examples of Image Transformations

Within this disclosure, examples of such image transformations include,but are not limited to, changing the resolution of one or more images,resampling one or more images, adjusting an exposure of one or moreimages, adjusting some image content recognition of the one or moreimages, adjusting image composition of one or more images, and/ormodifying at least some metadata associated with the one more images.This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of a resolutionconversion portion that can be integrated within the shared imagedevice, or alternatively can be located outside of the shared imagedevice and operatively coupled thereto.

FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of a resolution conversion process thatincreases the resolution of the images. Considering this resolutionconversion technique, a number of current pixels 903 (four shown) arecontained in the original image prior to the resolution conversionprocess. A number of added pixels 905 (eight shown) are added by theresolution conversion process. A color value is assigned to each addedpixel 905 depending upon the position of the added pixel with respect toone or more other current pixels 903. For example, and in oneembodiment, if an added pixel is located between two current pixels,than each color value (the color value may be subdivided into threecolor values including red, green, and blue in one embodiment, orgrayscale in another embodiment) can be determined as a mathematicalfunction based at least in one part on the distance between the currentpixels, in the color values of each current pixel. For illustrativepurposes only, assume that in the upper row of FIG. 10, the top leftcurrent pixel has a blue-color value of six, and the top right currentpixel has the blue color value of nine. Since there are two added pixelsbetween the two current pixels in the upper row, following mathematicaloperations such as may be performed by calculator, and/or by computer,or by other techniques in certain embodiments, wherein the lefthandedadded pixel in the upper row of FIG. 10 might be expected to have a bluecolor value of seven assigned thereto, while the right handed addedpixel in the upper row might be expected to have a blue color value ofeight. Such mathematical computations can be applied to data storage inone dimension, or two dimensions in different embodiments.

In those instances that the color value does not mathematically roundoff evenly, in certain embodiments but not others, the color value canbe assigned to the next-closest integer or fractional value provided bythe shared image device. Similar numerical computation can be preformedfor each of the green color value, red color value, and/or gray-scalecolor value and supplies to the particular image(s) whose resolution isbeing converted. Such mathematical functions that are utilized to derivethe color values of the added pixels can depend, at least in part, onwell-known and established mathematical weighing operations that couldbe performed within the controller 603 and as described with respect toFIG. 7.

While one embodiment of the resolution conversion process, that isutilized to increase at the resolution of a stored image, is describedwith respect to the upper row of current pixels and added pixels in FIG.10 along a single axis (e.g., in the horizontal direction), suchtechniques can also be applied along another axis, or even along adiagonal, utilizing generally known weighing techniques such asdescribed in a large variety of textbooks and articles, and commerciallyavailable in a variety of products and textbooks.

In a number of embodiments of the resolution conversion techniques ofcertain shared image devices 101, the actual dimension (e.g., footprint)or the intensity of light generated by the pixel can be modified by theconversion. For example, even though FIG. 10 shows a number ofembodiments of current pixels having a number of pixels addedtherebetween during a resolution conversion technique, in certainembodiments, the current dimensions of the pixels may utilize aconsiderable amount of space, such that the display or viewfinder wouldnot allow the addition of added pixels of the same dimension in betweenthe current pixels. In those embodiments, the footprint of each currentpixel over the display may be decreased in dimension, in such a mannerthat the added pixels can be inserted within an existing pixel array. Incertain embodiments, to increase a resolution, the color intensity ofthe current pixels can be reduced, and a color intensity of theremaining pixels can compensate for the reduced intensity. As such, theoverall color intensity values of the image can be maintained, theresolution of the image can be improved, and the final image can appearsharper following the increase of resolution in many embodiments of theshared image devices 101.

Another embodiment of resolution conversion process such as can beperformed by the controller 603 of FIGS. 7 and/or 15 is described withrespect to FIG. 11. The FIG. 11 embodiment of resolution conversionprocess acts to decrease the resolution of an original image. Forexample, the original image will contain the remaining pixels 1003 aswell as the removed pixels 1005 as shown in FIG. 11. One embodiment ofthe resolution conversion process acts to remove any illumination orcolor projected by the removed pixels 1005 from the original indentureto produce the decreased resolution image. As such, in certainembodiments, only certain pixels are selected to be the remaining pixels1003 whose color values are maintained, while the color values of theremoved pixels 1005 are effectively discarded.

In another embodiment of the resolution conversion process that acts asa resolution reduction technique, as described with respect to FIG. 11,at least certain ones of the color values of the removed pixels are notdiscarded, however they may be stored for latter computational ordisplay use. Such embodiments of resolution reduction techniques canutilize stored color values for the removed pixels to, at leastpartially, reconstruct the original image. As such, certain embodimentsof resolution conversion processes (including both the resolutionreduction and resolution increasing techniques) would utilize anon-trivial amount of energy to perform.

In certain embodiments of the shared image device, during certainembodiments of the decreasing resolution technique such as describedwith respect to FIG. 11, the actual dimension of the remaining pixelscan be modified, and/or the intensity of each of the pixels can beadjusted, to compensate for the removal of the remote pixels. Forexample, in one embodiment, as described with respect to FIG. 11, thecolor intensity information pertaining to each of the removed pixels canmirror one or more of the color value for the remaining pixels. Forexample, in one embodiment, assuming that the remaining pixel in theupper left-hand side of the array of pixels has given color value, andfive removed pixels can be assigned the same value as the upper-leftremaining pixel (or any other selected remaining pixel). In anotherembodiment, each pixel area corresponding to a removed pixel can beassigned by a new color intensity pixel value, relating to some weightedvalue pertaining to distances to proximate remaining pixels.

In yet other embodiments, the dimension of a particular remaining pixelcan be applied to similar areas as an original remaining pixel, whereinthe actual dimensions of the image is produced. As such, in the image asdescribed with respect to FIG. 11, the final image may be e.g., somefraction as wide and another fraction as high as the original image.

By decreasing the resolution, and in certain embodiments of the sharedimage device, a relatively large number of images can be stored and/orreviewed. In many embodiments, the resolution can be reduced withoutseriously altering the resulting images, depending partially on theintended use of the image. For example, assume that a shared imagedevice is being utilized to capture images of a house being sold. Underthese instances, the resulting images of relatively low-resolutionimages are perfectly satisfactory to convey the desired informationabout that particular application. As technology improves, manyembodiments of shared image devices are provided with high resolutioncapabilities. The present disclosure thereby provides a number ofmechanisms to be able to modify the resolution (either increase ordecrease the resolution), after a particular image has been captureddepending upon the particular resolution.

Another embodiment of resolution conversion process such as can beperformed by the controller 603 of FIGS. 7 and/or 15 is described withrespect to FIG. 12. The FIG. 12 embodiment of the resolution conversionprocess acts to increase the resolution of the original image that isbeing processed to the combined image. In general, the FIG. 12embodiment of the resolution conversion process combines original imageA with original image B to produce the combined image. The resolutionconversion process relies upon interleaving the pixels from the originalimage A with the pixels from the original image B. While the originalimage A and the original image B is shown in FIG. 12 as having similarresolution, it is to be understood that the resolution of the originalimages can vary in many embodiments of the resolution conversionprocess. The pixels from the different original images can beinterleaved within the same row, within the same column, on the diagonalbasis, and/or any combination thereof. The embodiment of the resolutionconversion process as described with respect to FIG. 12 therefore doesnot destroy any of the color values as described in this disclosure, butin fact interleaves the pixels while maintaining their color value toproduce the combined image.

Certain embodiments of the resolution enhancement techniques asdescribed with respect to FIG. 12 therefore may not utilize the amountof mathematical computation to derive the color values in certainembodiments of the resolution enhancement techniques as described withrespect to FIG. 10. In many embodiments, it is important that at leastportions of the original image portions be captured of the same generalimage. In certain embodiments, however the original image portions canbe captured at different angles, at different times, from differentlocations, etc. as desired by the user to create a desired image. Suchcombining of original images to derive a desired combined image may, incertain embodiments, be utilized to provide more of an impression ofdepth, or three-dimensionality, to the combined image as well asincreasing the resolution of the combined image.

One aspect of the shared image device can involve the use of a referenceimage from one shared imaging device to perform a transformation on animage taken with (at least one) an other shared image device. Forexample, consider where a first shared image device takes a photo of asubject; and a second shared image device captures another image (or setof images) of a standard color reference card (e.g., GretagMacbethColorChecker) or object with known color properties. The standardreference card images from the second shared image device is used toadjust the white balance of the image captured by the first shared imagedevice.

Consider that (a) the second shared image device could be a prettyrudimentary imaging device and that (b) the images from the first sharedimage device and the second shared image device, used in this way, couldbe associated by a variety of contextual information. For example, inone scenario, the first shared image device might be one of several highquality stadium or concert cameras that can be accessed by certainshared image devices to users either attending the concert, or outsidethereof, depending upon the particulars of the sharing session. The highquality first shared image device can then be used to take photos of theperformance in response to user control. The second shared image devicemight represent one or more single small rudimentary shared imagedevices that is aimed during each lighting change at an index card sizedcolor test pattern exposed to the same lighting conditions as the restof the stage, at each lighting queue or detected change in naturallighting. The second shared image device thereupon captures a new image.During sharing processing of each image captured by the first sharedimage device, a shared image provided by the second shared image devicewith an appropriate timestamp (the most recent one before the timestampof the image provided by the first shared image device) is used toperform color balancing (e.g., white balance transformation) such asprovided by the first shared image device.

This disclosure thereby provides for a number of different embodimentsof a mechanism or technique to estimate one or more operationalresources of a shared image device that are utilized to perform an imagetransformation. The mechanism or technique thereby estimates whether theshared image device has adequate operational capacity to perform theimage transformation to transform the one or more images. Differentembodiments of the image transformation estimator can include, but arenot limited to, and image resolution conversion estimator, and imageexposure adjustment estimator, and image metadata modification onestimator, an image content recognition estimator, and an imagecomposition adjustment estimator.

Naming Aspects

Other embodiments of shared image devices 101 involve “naming”. A uniquename for a particular session can be associated with each of the sharedimage devices that captured at least one shared image such as a digitalcamera or camcorder. Another simpler sharing embodiment involves sharedimage devices 101 that can be pre-configurable when being built ordistributed. For example, multiple cameras can be associated with eachother such that at least some of those cameras will be able to shareand/or copy images. For example, the metadata contained in theembodiment of the local capturing portion 908, as described with respectto FIG. 24, indicates whose camera captured the image as well as thesubject of each captured shared image. In another embodiment, multiplecameras may not even require an express actuation of the sharingmechanism 102, but the sharing mechanism can be actuated by turning onat least some of the cameras concurrently. In another embodiment, theowner of the entire set of shared image devices 101 can be, for example,people getting married or the parents of the birthday party child.

In one embodiment, the shared image device 101 identifies where aparticular shared image was captured or imaged, the subject of theparticular shared image, and/or when the shared image was captured. Inone embodiment, these types of shared image information can be containedas metadata relative to the shared image device 101. As such, themetadata can be used to answer queries that may be applied to the sharedimages in the sharing session.

Naming allows a shared image device 101 to be identified to its owner,or with its user. In one embodiment, a name stored as metadata or otherinformation can include a filename and a timestamp, and anidentification of the individual shared image device (e.g., the identityname can be added as the filename). The metadata can therefore beprovided within the desired format on the shared images.

Certain new embodiments involve providing multiple shared image devices101 at a given session being provided with a synchronized timestamp. Assuch, the shared images that pertain to a particular event such as awedding can be sorted depending upon the chronology of when theyoccurred. For example, shared images that are associated with a weddingcan be chronologically categorized and separated as shared images thatoccurred prior to the wedding, during the wedding, after the wedding,during the reception, or at the bar afterwards, etc. This therefore canallow the sharing mechanism to provide an offset time, for the distinctshared image devices 101. This can act similarly to synchronizingwatches between multiple photographers, and indicating the time of eachphotograph that can be sequentially arranged.

CONCLUSION

This disclosure provides a number of embodiments of the sharingmechanisms that can allow images that are located on one device to betransferred to another device. Different configurations of peripheralshared image devices and/or capturing shared image devices may becombined using networking techniques. Different embodiments of thesharing mechanisms can be included in such embodiments of the sharedimage network 100 as telecommunication systems, computer systems, audiosystems, video systems, teleconferencing systems, and/or hybridcombinations of certain ones of these systems. The embodiments of theshared image devices as described with respect to this disclosure areintended to be illustrative in nature, and are not limiting its scope.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems; theuse of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that incertain contexts the choice between hardware and software can becomesignificant) a design choice representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs.Those having skill in the art will appreciate that there are variousvehicles by which processes and/or systems and/or other technologiesdescribed herein can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/orfirmware), and that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context inwhich the processes and/or systems and/or other technologies aredeployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed andaccuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for mainly a hardwareand/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, theimplementer may opt for mainly a software implementation; or, yet againalternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware,software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several possible vehicles bywhich the processes and/or devices and/or other technologies describedherein may be effected, none of which is inherently superior to theother in that any vehicle to be utilized is a choice dependent upon thecontext in which the vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns(e.g., speed, flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any ofwhich may vary.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signalbearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordabletype media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digitaltape, and computer memory; and transmission type media such as digitaland analog communication links using TDM or IP based communication links(e.g., packet links).

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in any Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entireties.

The herein described aspects depict different components containedwithin, or connected with, different other components. It is to beunderstood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, andthat in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achievethe same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement ofcomponents to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated”such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any twocomponents herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can beseen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionalityis achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components.Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being“operably connected”, “operably linked”, or “operably coupled”, to eachother to achieve the desired functionality, and any two componentscapable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operablycouplable”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specificexamples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physicallymateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelesslyinteractable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logicallyinteracting and/or logically interactable components.

It is to be understood by those skilled in the art that, in general,that the terms used in the disclosure, including the drawings and theappended claims (and especially as used in the bodies of the appendedclaims), are generally intended as “open” terms. For example, the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to”; theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; and the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to”;etc. In this disclosure and the appended claims, the terms “a”, “the”,and “at least one” located prior to one or more items are intended toapply inclusively to either one or a plurality of those items.

Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “atleast one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a constructionis intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understandthe convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C”would include but not be limited to systems that could have A alone, Balone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together,and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems thatcould have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and Ctogether, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the herein-describedspecific exemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

Within this disclosure, elements that perform similar functions in asimilar way in different embodiments may be provided with the same orsimilar numerical reference characters in the figures.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: circuitry forreceiving at least partially via a user interface at least one sharingregion and at least one duration of at least one sharing session;circuitry for detecting at least one request for at least one sharedimage device within the at least one sharing region to join the at leastone sharing session; circuitry for providing at least one selectionopportunity for enabling a confirmation of the request for the at leastone shared image device to join the at least one sharing session;circuitry for accepting the at least one shared image device into the atleast one sharing session at least partially responsive to at least oneselection received at least partially via the user interface; andcircuitry for enabling a transfer of at least some portion of one ormore images to the at least one shared image device via the at least onesharing session.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry forreceiving at least partially via a user interface at least one sharingregion and at least one duration of at least one sharing sessioncomprises: circuitry for detecting, within at least one field of view ofa first shared image device, at least one other shared image device;circuitry for presenting the at least one field of view of the firstshared image device on a viewfinder of the first shared image device,including at least presenting a visible indication of the at least oneother shared image device; and circuitry for providing a selectionopportunity for enabling a user of the first shared image device toaccept the at least one other shared image device into the at least onesharing session.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry fordetecting, within at least one field of view of a first shared imagedevice, at least one other shared image device comprises: circuitry fordetecting, within at least one field of view of a first shared imagedevice, at least one other shared image device based at least partiallyon positioning of a field of view of the first shared image device. 4.The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for presenting the at least onefield of view of the first shared image device on a viewfinder of thefirst shared image device, including at least presenting a visibleindication of the at least one other shared image device comprises:circuitry for presenting the at least one field of view of the firstshared image device on a viewfinder of the first shared image device,including at least one of highlighting, outlining, or color-coding theat least one other shared image device within an image displayed on theviewfinder presenting the at least one field of view.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region and at least one duration of atleast one sharing session comprises: circuitry for receiving at leastpartially via a user interface of a synchronizing shared image device atleast one sharing region and at least one duration of at least onesharing session.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry foraccepting the at least one shared image device into the at least onesharing session at least partially responsive to at least one selectionreceived at least partially via the user interface comprises: circuitryfor accepting the at least one shared image device into the at least onesharing session at least partially in response to one or moreindications of at least one of an authentication or an authorizationassociated with the at least one shared image device.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein circuitry for enabling a transfer of at least someportion of one or more images to the at least one shared image devicevia the at least one sharing session comprises: circuitry for actuatingthe at least one sharing session at least partially in response tophysical contact between at least two shared image devices, the at leasttwo shared image devices including at least two cellular phones withpicture taking capabilities.
 8. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: circuitry for receiving one or more requests associated withthe at least one shared image device for one or more images captured atleast one of during or previous to the at least one sharing session. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry for receiving at leastpartially via a user interface at least one sharing region and at leastone duration of at least one sharing session comprises: circuitry forreceiving at least partially via a user interface at least one sharingregion of at least one sharing session, including at least circuitry foroverlapping a first field of view from a viewfinder of a first sharedimage device and a second field of view from a viewfinder of a secondshared image device.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry forenabling a transfer of at least some portion of one or more images to atleast one shared image device via the at least one sharing sessioncomprises: circuitry for determining whether one or more images werecaptured at one or more times prior to the at least one shared imagedevice being accepted into the at least one sharing session and, if oneor more images were captured at one or more times prior to the at leastone shared image device being accepted into the at least one sharingsession, signaling to transmit to the at least one shared image deviceat least some portion of the one or more images that were captured atone or more times prior to the at least one shared image device beingaccepted into the at least one sharing session.
 11. The system of claim1, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region and at least one duration of atleast one sharing session comprises: circuitry for receiving at leastpartially via a user interface of a capturing shared image device atleast one sharing region and at least one duration of at least onesharing session.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry forreceiving at least partially via a user interface at least one sharingregion and at least one duration of at least one sharing sessioncomprises: circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region and at least one duration of atleast one sharing session, the received at least one sharing regionassociated with one or more positional coordinates.
 13. The system ofclaim 1, wherein circuitry for detecting at least one request for atleast one shared image device within the at least one sharing region tojoin the at least one sharing session comprises: circuitry for detectingat least one shared image device within the at least one sharing regionvia receiving at least some positional coordinates from one or morelocation sensors of the at least one shared image device.
 14. The systemof claim 1, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partially via auser interface at least one sharing region and at least one duration ofat least one sharing session comprises: circuitry for receiving at leastpartially via a user interface at least one sharing region and at leastone duration of at least one peer-to-peer sharing session.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partiallyvia a user interface at least one sharing region and at least oneduration of at least one peer-to-peer sharing session comprises:circuitry for receiving at least partially via a user interface at leastone sharing region and at least one duration of at least onepeer-to-peer sharing session, the at least one peer-to-peer sharingsession established only with capturing shared image devices.
 16. Thesystem of claim 1, further comprising: circuitry for enabling adetection of the duration of the at least one sharing session ending andenabling a detection of the at least one shared image device leaving theat least one sharing region, and, if at least one of the duration of theat least one sharing session ending or the at least one shared imagedevice leaving the at least one sharing region is detected, terminatingthe at least one sharing session.
 17. The system of claim 1, whereincircuitry for receiving at least partially via a user interface at leastone sharing region and at least one duration of at least one sharingsession comprises: circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region and at least one duration, the atleast one duration including at least one indication of an amount oftime for enabling at least one sharing session.
 18. The system of claim1, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region and at least one duration of atleast one sharing session comprises: circuitry for receiving at leastpartially via a user interface at least one sharing region and at leastone duration, the at least one duration including at least one of (i) atleast one indication of an amount of time that the at least one sharingsession is to be enabled or (ii) at least one indication that the atleast one sharing session is to be enabled as long as at least oneshared image device is within the at least one sharing region.
 19. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partiallyvia a user interface at least one sharing region and at least oneduration of at least one sharing session comprises: circuitry forreceiving at least partially via a user interface at least one sharingregion and at least one duration, the at least one duration including atleast one indication of a stored duration that the at least one sharingsession is to be enabled.
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitryfor receiving at least partially via a user interface at least onesharing region and at least one duration of at least one sharing sessioncomprises: circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region and at least one duration, the atleast one duration including at least one default timeout value.
 21. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partiallyvia a user interface at least one sharing region and at least oneduration of at least one sharing session comprises: circuitry forreceiving at least partially via a user interface at least one sharingregion and at least one duration, the at least one sharing regionincluding at least one physical contact between at least two members ofa shared image network.
 22. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry forreceiving at least partially via a user interface at least one sharingregion and at least one duration of at least one sharing sessioncomprises: circuitry for receiving at least one indication of at leastone physical contact between at least two members of a shared imagenetwork and enabling at least one sharing session, the at least onesharing session enabled for at least one amount of time received atleast partially via a user interface previous to the at least onephysical contact, the at least one sharing session enabling a wirelesstransfer of at least some portion of at least one image.
 23. The systemof claim 1, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partially via auser interface at least one sharing region and at least one duration ofat least one sharing session comprises: circuitry for receiving at leastpartially via a user interface at least one sharing region, the at leastone sharing region defined at least partially by at least one of anauthentication or an authorization.
 24. The system of claim 1, whereincircuitry for receiving at least partially via a user interface at leastone sharing region and at least one duration of at least one sharingsession comprises: circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region, the at least one sharing regiondefined at least partially by at least one of geographic proximity orpassword proximity.
 25. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry foraccepting the at least one shared image device into the at least onesharing session at least partially responsive to at least one selectionreceived at least partially via the user interface comprises: circuitryfor accepting the at least one shared image device into the at least onesharing session at least partially in response to at least oneindication of at least one physical contact with the at least one sharedimage device for at least one duration.
 26. The system of claim 1,wherein circuitry for enabling a transfer of at least some portion ofone or more images to at least one shared image device via the at leastone sharing session comprises: circuitry for enabling, at leastpartially in response to at least one indication of at least onephysical contact with at least one shared image device, a transfer of atleast some portion of one or more images to at least one shared imagedevice via the at least one sharing session.
 27. The system of claim 1,wherein circuitry for detecting at least one request for at least oneshared image device within the at least one sharing region to join theat least one sharing session comprises: circuitry for detecting at leastone indication of the at least one shared image device entering the atleast one sharing region.
 28. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitryfor enabling a transfer of at least some portion of one or more imagesto at least one shared image device via the at least one sharing sessioncomprises: circuitry for enabling a transfer of at least some portion ofone or more binary files to at least one shared image device via the atleast one sharing session.
 29. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitryfor enabling a transfer of at least some portion of one or more imagesto at least one shared image device via the at least one sharing sessioncomprises: circuitry for enabling a transfer of at least some portion ofat least one of one or more still images, one or more audio files, oneor more video files, or one or more movie files to at least one sharedimage device via the at least one sharing session.
 30. The system ofclaim 1, wherein circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region and at least one duration of atleast one sharing session comprises: circuitry for receiving, at leastpartially via a user interface of a member of a shared image network, atleast one indication of at least one sharing region defined relative tothe member of a shared image network.
 31. The system of claim 1, whereincircuitry for detecting at least one request for at least one sharedimage device within the at least one sharing region to join the at leastone sharing session comprises: circuitry for detecting at least oneshared image device entering a field of view of at least one member of ashared image network.
 32. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry forenabling a transfer of at least some portion of one or more images to atleast one shared image device via the at least one sharing sessioncomprises: circuitry for enabling a transfer of at least some portion ofone or more images to at least one peripheral shared image device viathe at least one sharing session.
 33. The system of claim 1, whereincircuitry for receiving at least partially via a user interface at leastone sharing region and at least one duration of at least one sharingsession comprises: circuitry for receiving at least partially via a userinterface at least one sharing region of at least one sharing sessionand receiving at least partially via the user interface at least oneduration for storage of one or more files received via the at least onesharing session.
 34. The system of claim 1, wherein circuitry fordetecting at least one request for at least one shared image devicewithin the at least one sharing region to join the at least one sharingsession comprises: circuitry for detecting at least one request for atleast one shared image device within at least one two-dimensionalsharing region to join the at least one sharing session.
 35. The systemof claim 1, wherein circuitry for enabling a transfer of at least someportion of one or more images to at least one shared image device viathe at least one sharing session comprises: circuitry for enabling atransfer of at least some portion of one or more files to at least onemember of a shared image network via at least one wireless link.
 36. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein circuitry for providing at least oneselection opportunity for enabling a confirmation of the request for theat least one shared image device to join the at least one sharingsession comprises: circuitry for presenting at least one visibleindication related to the at least one shared image device.
 37. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein circuitry for enabling a transfer of at leastsome portion of one or more images to the at least one shared imagedevice via the at least one sharing session comprises: circuitry foroverlapping a first field of view from the at least one shared imagedevice with a second field of view from at least another device via theat least one sharing session.
 38. The system of claim 1, whereincircuitry for providing at least one selection opportunity for enablinga confirmation of the request for the at least one shared image deviceto join the at least one sharing session comprises: circuitry forproviding at least one selection opportunity for at least one ofaccepting or denying the request for the at least one shared imagedevice to join the at least one sharing session.
 39. An article ofmanufacture, comprising: means for receiving at least partially via auser interface at least one sharing region and at least one duration ofat least one sharing session; means for detecting at least one requestfor at least one shared image device within the at least one sharingregion to join the at least one sharing session; means for providing atleast one selection opportunity for enabling a confirmation of therequest for the at least one shared image device to join the at leastone sharing session; means for accepting at least one shared imagedevice into the at least one sharing session at least partiallyresponsive to at least one selection received at least partially via theuser interface; and means for enabling a transfer of at least someportion of one or more images to at least one shared image device viathe at least one sharing session.
 40. A method, comprising: receiving atleast partially via a user interface at least one sharing region and atleast one duration of at least one sharing session; detecting at leastone request for at least one shared image device within the at least onesharing region to join the at least one sharing session; providing atleast one selection opportunity for enabling a confirmation of therequest for the at least one shared image device to join the at leastone sharing session; accepting at least one shared image device into theat least one sharing session at least partially responsive to at leastone selection received at least partially via the user interface; andenabling a transfer of at least some portion of one or more images to atleast one shared image device via the at least one sharing session.